Meet the Candidates
"All politics is local", Rep. Tip O'Neill used to say, and that's especially true here in Wilton. We are proud of our 200-year tradition of self-government and we guard our independence fiercely. That's why we've assembled a team of neighbors and friends who care enough about Wilton to give their time and expertise to make sure our town runs smoothly and professionally. While Hartford and Washington see a "one size fits all" world, we know Wilton is unique. We need local leaders focused on local issues, not national politics.
Our platform is simple yet critically important to all of us who love Wilton:
- Ensure an exceptional education for our students.
- Boost Wilton's economy by supporting local businesses.
- Support local law enforcement to foster a safe, thriving community.
- Further Wilton's efforts as a leader in both environmental sustainability and green, open space.
- Preserve independent decision-making for Wilton.
Our team is smart, skilled, and reliably local. We invite you to get to know them:
Board of Selectmen
Toni Boucher
Toni has had an extensive business career while serving the State of CT and Town of Wilton as Board of Education Chairman, Selectman, State Education Commissioner, State Representative, and State Senator.
In office, Toni was successful in helping to preserve and fund the Weir Farm Art Center, Ambler Farm, Wilton Library, Wilton Historical Society, and Trackside TeenCenter.
She also helped prevent a highway that was being proposed through Wilton, instead negotiating the widening of Route 7 while preserving Orem’s Diner and enabled the creation of the Norwalk River Valley Trail in state statute. Toni helped to secure funding to construct Wilton Commons for seniors.
Toni has devoted her career to serving us.
A 40-year Wilton resident, she has three adult children and six grandchildren, two of whom attend Wilton schools.
Joshua Cole
Currently the town's Second Selectman, Joshua has served on the Board of Selectman for the past six years and also currently sits on the Water Pollution Control Authority. Previously, he was an elected member of the Zoning Board of Appeals for four years, including two years as Chairman, and served on the Plan of Conservation and Development Committee. Since 2018 Joshua has also been on the Wilton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Joshua is a Partner and Co-Chair of the Commercial Finance Practice Group at Pullman & Comley and has been a practicing commercial real estate and finance attorney in NY and CT for more than 20 years. His practice centers around complex commercial finance matters, including high-value lending, leasing, and acquisition and sales transactions. He has closed hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions, representing major multinational banks, corporate clients, and high-net-worth individuals.
Joshua and his wife, Melissa Rotini, have lived in Wilton for sixteen years and have two daughters in Wilton Schools.
Heather Priest
Heather is a former teacher in Wilton schools, serving as a culinary arts instructor for eight years.
In 2022, Heather made the difficult decision to leave teaching to fulfill a life-long career goal of becoming a product development scientist in the food and beverage industry.
Heather and her husband Dr. John Priest, a history teacher at Middlebrook, have twin daughters who attend Wilton High School.
Heather has a BS in Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services from Florida State University and a Master’s in Agriculture and Food Science from Washington State University.
Lori Bufano
Lori has served on the Board of Selectmen for four years and as Second Selectmen for two years. She served more than 5 years on Planning & Zoning, including as Vice Chair. four years on the Zoning Board of Appeals. She is currently a member of the Water Pollution Control Authority, on which she has served 2 years. With 22 years of service, Lori is likely the the longest serving and most experienced member in our town government.
She is a WHS graduate, obtained her BA from Villanova and her MBA from the University of New Haven. After spending over 30 years as an account manager with a Fortune 500 healthcare company, Lori is currently Manager of Logistics for two Yale New Haven Health hospitals.
She hopes to be part of a collaborative BOE that will ensure our schools remain top-rated.
Mark Shaner
An advocate of STEM excellence, Mark has lived in Wilton with his family for eight years. He has been actively involved with Wilton’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Wilton Soccer Association.
He previously served on the board of The Epiphany School located in NYC. Mark and his wife, Danielle, who is a teacher at Middlebrook, have two children who currently attend Wilton Public Schools.
A former aerospace engineer and management consultant, and now VP of Strategy and Corporate Development for a cybersecurity insurer, he holds a BS from the University of Maryland and an MBA from Columbia University.
Annie Chochos
Annie served as PTA co-president at Miller-Driscoll from 2019-2021, helping lead the PTA through the difficulties of the COVID pandemic.
Annie grew up in NY. She and her husband, Louie, fell in love with the small-town feel and Wilton’s schools, moving here in 2015. Their son is a 5th grader at Cider Mill.
She has been an active volunteer at both Miller-Driscoll and Cider Mill and is PTO President of the Greek School at Archangels Greek Orthodox Church.
Annie has a BA in Merchandising and Fashion Buying from Fashion Institute of Technology and was a merchandising coordinator for Tiffany & Co.
Board of Finance
Rudy Escalante
Rudy and his wife Diane Berenbaum have lived in Wilton for over 30 years. His son Adam is a Wilton High School graduate.
From 2009-2021 he served on the Wilton Employees Retirement Plan Investment Committee and from 2020-2023 he was Finance Chair at Temple B’nai Chaim.
He was VP of Finance (2018-2020) and President (2021-2023) of Boy Scouts of America - CT Yankee Council. Rudy was CEO of corporate governance of software company ICSA Software N.A.
Prasad Iyer
Prasad, his wife Suma, and his family have lived in Wilton since 2005. They have a child in the school system, another is a recent Wilton High School graduate.
Prasad has been Chairman of Wilton's Economic Development Commission since 2020. Previously serving as a VP at Mastercard, he is currently VP of Digital Client Initiatives at a Fortune 500 company.
He has extensive experience in Financial Planning & Analysis and Strategic Planning.
He will bring diversity of thought and a sustainable growth mindset to the Board of Finance.
Other Offices
Rick Tomasetti
Planning & Zoning
A lifelong Wilton resident and prominent architect, Rick is Chairman of the P&Z Commission.
Rick and his wife, Patti have lived in Wilton for26 years. He has served on the Building Inspectors Board of Appeals, Water Pollution Control Authority and the Wilton Family YMCA Board of Directors.
Rick has worked on architecture and construction projects throughout four states.
Lily Zoruba
Zoning Board of Appeals Alt.
Lily graduated from Wilton High School. She has a BA in Marketing from the University of Scranton.
Lily works in Business Development at POTOO Solutions.
She recently married another Wilton native, Martynas Zoruba, who is currently serving in the Marines.
Mohammed Ayoub
Zoning Board of Appeals
Mohammed is a VP and Design Director leading Design Studio at HDR in NYC. He has led the design of several large-scale, award-winning complex projects and masterplans across the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia.
A Chartered Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, he is also a recipient of Building Design and Construction’s 2011 40 Under 40.
Mohammed and his wife, Christina, are the parents of two daughters.
Jeff Turner
Zoning Board of Appeals
Jeff Turner has been a Wilton resident and real estate agent since 1997. He and his wife Nadine have two children who graduated from Wilton High School.
Jeff has been very involved in many town volunteer organizations and boards. He is currently VP of the Wilton American Legion and Director of the Wilton Kiwanis Club and Connecticut Military Officers Association.
After graduating with an engineering degree from Northwestern University, and a commission as a US Naval Officer, Jeff served four years on active duty, and eighteen in the reserves, before retiring in 2008.
Angie Berolino
Constable
Angie is the Founder/CEO of Hollywood OS and author & publisher of several books on the entertainment industry. The Bertolinos moved here in 2019 from Los Angeles and have three children. Finding Wilton was like catching "lightning in a bottle" with our small-town charm and tight-knit community. Angie volunteers on several committees at Miller-Driscoll and coaches youth soccer.
Anthony Cenatiempo
Planning and Zoning
Anthony has served on the Zoning Board of Appeals since 2018; he has been Chairman since2019. Anthony earned his BA & JD from UCONN and has been a practicing attorney since 2005, with a focus on family law litigation at the trial and appellate level in Connecticut. He and his wife, Sarah, have lived in Wilton since 2017.
Melissa-Jean Rotini
Planning and Zoning
Melissa is Vice Chair of P&Z and on the Master Planning Sub-Committee. She has also served the town on the Plan of Conservation and Development Committee, and as Chair of the EDC.
Melissa and her husband, Joshua Cole, have lived in Wilton for sixteen years and have two daughters in Wilton Schools.
Peter Wrampe
Constable
Peter is a data analytics professor at NYU and a former international business executive with Union Carbide/Praxair.
He and his wife Kathleen have lived in Wilton since 1979, raising their two children here.
Peter is a Justice of the Peace, the chairman of the Wilton RTC, a former member of the Energy & Utilities Commission.
Maggie Bittner
Constable
Maggie is a native Nutmegger. She moved to Wilton eleven years ago with her husband Jake to raise their two children. Professionally, Maggie owns an event management company, Matchbook Events, LLC. She has volunteered with the school PTAs and served on the board of the Wilton Education Foundation.