BRULE RUNNING FOR WATERFORD FIRST SELECTMAN; NAZARCHYK AS RUNNING MATE

Waterford — Businessman and Selectman Rob Brule and longtime Board of Education member Jody Nazarchyk recently announced runs for first selectman and selectwoman, respectively.

In an announcement Thursday night hosted by the Waterford Town Republican Committee at Filomena’s, Brule is running to fill a spot left by First Selectman Dan Steward, who will retire at the end of his current term after 14 years of service.

Brule, a Republican on the Board of Selectmen for the last four years, currently is director of operations and quality assurance for ABI Resources, a human service company specializing in community-based acquired brain injury rehabilitation. He previously served as chief operating officer at Project Genesis, a nonprofit that serves people with disabilities.

Brule coached Waterford High School girls soccer for 20 years and has served on a host of town boards and committees, including the Representative Town Meeting, Community Center Building Committee, School Building Committee and Municipal Complex Building Committee, and as chairman of the Recreation and Parks Commission.

“Together Jody and I have nearly 50 years of service for this great town,” Brule said. “We are incredibly proud of what’s been accomplished for the town — a stable tax rate, strong but well planned development, sparkling new schools, protection of our natural resources, and a growing team of first responders that protect our community’s health and safety.”

Brule said like many cities and towns, Waterford faces challenges like regionalization and unfunded mandates, the Seaside property and economic development that will require “sound, informed thinking that has made Waterford a unique place to live, work ... and raise a family.”

Nazarchyk, an independent, retired this year after working as an administrative assistant at Medtronic LLC for 15 years, Martland Healthcare for eight years and Sportsman’s Boating Corporation for 20 years.

A concession stand staple at high school sports games, Nazarchyk has been a member of the Board of Education for almost 25 years, sat on the School Building Committee and multiple parent teacher organizations and the Friendship School Governing Board, and chairs the Youth and Family Services Advisory Council. She also taught catechism at St. Paul’s for 15 years and was a longtime Little League softball coach.

“I think it’s important that we are one town, one team,” Nazarchyk said. “It’s not just the two of us, it’s the whole town. We’re there to represent all of you. We have an open-door policy, come to us with your concerns and questions.”