2025 Torrington Democratic Candidates

Mayoral Candidate

electstephenivain.com

Education: I graduated from Torrington High School and earned my Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Science from Connecticut College.

Occupation:  I bring over 30 years of experience as a senior business manager and financial analyst, having worked with Fortune 500 companies in wealth management and employee benefits. I have led teams of employees and vendors on projects involving investments, products, and system management. My professional background has equipped me with valuable skills in goal-setting, budgeting, deadline management, and delivering measurable results.

Family: I am a third-generation resident of Torrington, deeply rooted in the community I proudly call home. My wife, Philippa—a teacher in Torrington public schools—and I raised our three children here, all of whom graduated from our city’s public schools.

Community Involvement: I am an active volunteer and a firm believer in public service, I have always prioritized giving back to my community. I currently serve in a number of leadership and volunteer roles, including:

Torrington City Councilman
Torrington Democratic Town Committee
Board Member, Torrington Historical Society
Board Member, Northwest CT Chamber of Commerce
Treasurer, Chorus Angelicus
Board Member & Treasurer, Torrington Heritage Land Preservation Trust
Member, Torrington Trail Network

My dedication to Torrington, both professionally and civically, reflects my belief that now, more than ever, giving back to our community matters.

City Clerk Candidate

Education: I was educated at the University of California, Riverside, where I completed my Bachelor of Arts Degree and did coursework in the Graduate School of Business.

Occupation: I am a retired professional. I worked over 25 years as a Program/Project Manager for several technology companies. My employers included Northrop Grumman Corporation, General Dynamics Corporation, GTE Corporation, Harsco Corporation, Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), and Haliburton Corporation. My experience encompasses the construction and utilities industries, energy programs, aerospace, environmental remediation, transportation, telecommunications, data security, and retail and distribution.

I also authored a book on project management titled, “PicturePerfect PMP.” The book sold in eight contries.

​Family: I am married to my wife of 26 years, Gale. I am the father of four adult children. I am the grandfather of fourteen grandchildren.

​Community involvement: My professional life entailed several relocations. In each community I lived in I became involved in youth sports via my children.

Why I am running: I am running for office to be more involved in the city. My wife and I retired to Torrington because we think it is a great place to live. We like its commitment to the arts. We believe that – with the right leadership – it will become an even greater place to live.

Treasurer Candidate

Education: Lycée J. Decour / Valencia College

Occupation: Lead Fraud Prevention Agent, Home Insurance 

Family: Spouse Grace

Community involvement: Volunteer at soup kitchen

Why I am running: My spouse and I moved here from Florida to start a new life. Everyone has been so welcoming and we truly love Torrington. I want to use my skills to be a responsible steward of public funds

City Council Candidate

Name: Paul Cavagnero

Education: St.Peter School; Torrington High School; Amherst College

Occupation: Recently retired from ESPN where I was involved in digital Content Creation and streaming operations

Family: Single Parent with two grown children, Amanda and Matthew 

Community involvement: I served two years on the Southwest School Parent Advisory Committee after which I was elected to the Board of Education. I served there for ten years including six as Chairman of the Board and three as Chair of the School Improvement Committee which I created before stepping down as Board Chair. For the last ten years I have served on the Torrington City Council. 

City positions held: Board of Education, City Council

Why I am running: As an elected official I have worked very hard over the years to speak out and to vote - often against the prevailing tide - in ways that I believed kept our city focused on Torrington's core values: commitment to family, respect for Seniors, quality education, safe streets and affordability of services. If re-elected, I will continue to support whichever path best enables our own local leaders to make decisions based solely on what will be in the best interest of Torrington.

Torrington First has been my guiding principle throughout my political career - and that will never change. 

City Council Candidate

Education: AA Liberal Arts from Northwestern Connecticut Community College; BA from University of Connecticut, Double major: American Studies & Urban Sociology 

Occupation: Market Development, Savkat Solar 

Family: Wife, Casey 

Community involvement: I founded a local nonprofit organization in 2011, Spirits of 76. For three years, we organized community clean-ups, food drives, and supported local families and veterans in need. 

City positions held: served on the DTC. Ran for city council in 2023. 

Why I am running: I was born and raised in Torrington and truly believe in its potential. I have the education and experience to do the job well and feel an obligation to serve my community.

City Council Candidate

Education: Torrington Public Schools, SCSU

Occupation: Office Manager

​Family: Husband-Doug, Kids Freyja & Max

​Community involvement: Board member of the Community Kitchen of Torrington, TDTC Secretary, and Volunteer at WAPJ.

City positions held: Constable, Justice of the Peace

Why I am running:  As a lifelong Torrington resident, I feel it is time for a younger generation to get more involved in the local political scene. With taxes on the rise and business growth stagnate, I decided to take the leap into a position that would help Torrington more in addressing these issues. 

City Council Candidate

Education: Master Degree in Counseling, Syracuse University; Bachelor Degree in Psychology, America University of Beirut;Elementary School Teaching Diploma, American University of Beirut

Occupation: Owner of Premier Therapy and Wellness Center in Torrington. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with 30 years of experience in the fields of Mental Health and Substance Use.

Family: I am married to Georges Noujaim and we have two children. We have lived in Torrington since 1998 .

Positions held: I served on the Torrington City Council from 2015-2017.

Community Involvement: I am always available to help when needed. 

Why I am running: I am running to give back to my community and ensure our city's policies reflects the needs and values of all its residents.

Board of Safety Candidate

Education: University of Connecticut School of Law 

Occupation: I enlisted in the US Army and served on active duty  in Oklahoma for three years. After completing my military service, I was admitted at the University of Connecticut and graduated from its law school in 2017. Then, I served as an executive assistant to Attorney General George Jepsen. I became a licensed attorney in 2019 and briefly worked for McCalla Raymer Leibert and Pierce LLC as an associate attorney. During the pandemic, I worked as an attorney advisor at the federal Small Business Administration and helped countless of American businesses apply for disaster loans. After the pandemic, I continued my public service career as a legal counsel on the Connecticut’s cannabis Social Equity Council and helped lunch the Connecticut adult use cannabis industry. I played a major role in the licensing process of several new businesses, development of policies on the safe and responsible use of cannabis and the sale of cannabis businesses in Connecticut and the reinvestment of cannabis revenues in the cities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. I was recently appointed by Governor Ned Lamont and confirmed by the legislature to serve as a human rights referee at the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities’ Office of Public Hearings where I hear cases involving employment, housing, credit discrimination and whistleblower retaliation. 

​Family: Single

​Community Involvement: Before becoming a member of the Torrington DTC, I have served as the vice president of the George Crawford Black Bar Association,  and the vice president of the Greater Hartford Young Democrats. I am currently a Member of the board of directors of the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center and an executive member of the Young Lawyers Section of the Connecticut Bar Association. 

City positions held: in Torrington, I am a member of “Our Culture is Beautiful”, a local organization advocating for more integration and inclusion of residents  in Torrington.

Why I am running:  I am running for the board of public safety because I believe we need to provide more support and resources to Torrington police officers and firefighters to enable them better serve our community. 

Board of Safety Candidate

Education: National Real Estate Institute (Cromwell CT); Healthcare Informatics (Slippery Rock University, Pennsylvania); Nursing degrees (SUNY); Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Certification (Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, N.Y.)

Occupations: Pacific Marine Biotech contributing to ground breaking cancer and auto-immune disorder treatment development, Associate Real Estate Broker and Retired RN. 

Family: Husband (Scott) and five adult children, 6 grandchildren and 4 rescue dogs. 

Community involvement: CT Justice of the Peace, Treasurer of the Torrington Democrat Town Committee, Treasurer of the Ivain for Mayor Campaign, Member Greater Hartford Board of Realtors.

City positions held: Vice Chair of the Torrington Economic Development Commission. 

Why I am running: As a former Crisis, Forensic and ER nurse I often interfaced with Police, EMS teams, SVU investigators, prosecutors as well as Family and Criminal courts. My diverse background in Health Care, Science, Real Estate, and Public Service makes me uniquely qualified to advocate for policies that enhance public safety, strengthen community ties and support Torrington’s growth. I have a proven record of leadership and a heart for service and I am ready to bring my experience and dedication to the Board of Public Safety.

Board of Education Candidate

Education: Oliver Wolcott Tech ‘11, attended NCCC and CCSU

Occupation: Executive Aide to Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves

​Family: I’m a 5th generation Torrington resident. From fire marshalls to county sherriffs to UAW Presidents, members of the Corey family have long been involved in Torrington civic life. I’m the only child of Michelle Corey and one of many grandchildren of the late Edward E Corey.

Community involvement: Democratic Town Committee, Friendly Hands Food Bank volunteer

City positions held: Board of Education, elected 2017, re-elected 2021

Why I Serve: I serve on the Board of Ed to continue the transformational work happening in our school district. During the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, my colleagues and I worked together to identify and support the families of district students in need with food, expenses paid internet for at home learning, and more. Under my co-Chairmanship the Board has adopted proven math and reading curriculum which has improved academic performance, opened the new High School/Middle School, and implemented a career pathways program at Torrington High School to give our students who aren’t going to college essential career skills.

Board of Education Candidate

Education: BA from Mount Saint Mary College, Double major: History & Public Policy

Occupation: Project Coordinator, Connecticut Water Company

Family: Wife (Elisabeth, Daughter (Oaklyn)

Community involvement: None as of yet but looking forward to contributing!

City positions held: This is my first time running!

Why I am running: I have lived in Torrington my whole life and I am eager to give back! I believe my work experience can positively contribute to handling budgets and the public’s general opinion with our school system.

Board of Education Candidate

Education: Oliver Wolcott Technical High School - Carpentry ‘13;
Western Connecticut State University -Bachelor of Arts in Social Work ‘18 -Master of Science in Counselor Education-School Counseling ’24

Occupation: I have spent the last decade working with children and adolescents through several roles in K-12 and higher education. Including: camp counselor, university assistant, substitute teacher and counseling intern.

Currently, I work as a legislative liaison at a non-profit. In this role, I foster connections between staff and elected officials, from 43 towns and cities, to help inform each other’s work and collaborate on overall prevention initiatives

​Family: My family has called this area home for four generations. I’m proud to be the product of farmers and factory workers that were able to build better lives and raise large families here; blessing me with many siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews.

​Community involvement: I have been a regular volunteer at Friendly Hands Food Bank for the past five years.

City positions held: Appointed by Mayor Carbone to the Board of Ethics in 2023.

Why I am running: I am running for the Board of Education because our children and families deserve leaders with the experience to make informed decisions that will shape their future. Having worked with elected officials on both sides of the aisle, I hope to have effective collaboration with my colleagues to achieve the best outcomes for our community.

Selectperson Candidate

Education: BFA Tufts University; Also studied Microbiology, Organic Chemistry and Functional Movement Therapy 2009-2012

Occupation: Secretary, Land Use Office, Artist, Sole Proprietor The Vital Gaitway

​Family: The Torrington Borla’s, Jacob’s and Altman’s. Kids: India and Ivy

​Community involvement: Volunteer Commissioner for 23 years organizing and participating in city-wide cleanups, planting community orchards, core forest assessments, trail development, and regulating wetlands

City positions held: Chair Conservation Commission, Vice Chair Wetlands Commission, Senior Secretary, Land Use Department

Why I am running: I was born in Torrington, grew up in Torrington, raised my kids in Torrington, and absolutely love this city. I want to preserve the beauty of our landscape and affordability of our housing, while promoting economic viability and the types of amenities that better the lives of our citizens.

Selectperson Candidate

Education: Broward Community College, Clinical Laboratory Technician (A.S. degree); Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy, Institute of Healing Arts and Sciences, Reiki Practitioner

Occupation: Plantation Hospital, Pre-Op, Phlebotomist, EKG tech; MetPath and Columbia Medical Laboratories, Sales Representative, MetPath Medical Laboratories - training and support for clients in my Torrington, Fairfield & Hartford County territories; Massage therapy and  Energy Medicine Practitioner, private practice, Litchfield, CT

Family: Married 46yrs, 2 Children 40 & 36 yrs. old

Community Involvement: Susan B. Anthony - Advisory Council, Walk A Mile, Christmas tree, promotion, support, fundraiser; Connecticut Yankee Chorale, Waterbury Chorale, singer, ticket sales, promotion; Helping Hands Soup kitchen, supporter

Why I am Running: I am running for Selectman to support the City we live in and in honor of my mother-in-law. During her time as mayor (85-95), Delia Donne made Torrington a better place to live. I know Stephen will too!

Constable Candidate

Education: Torrington High School, Class of 1997; Fairfield University, Class of 2001, Magna Cum Laude, BA in Politics; College of William & Mary School of Law, Class of 2004, Juris Doctorate

Occupation: Attorney

Family: I have one son, Bobby, who is going into the 5th grade.  My grandmother, Claire Nadeau, and my father, Leo Nadeau, both passed away but were also from Torrington.  My mother, Patricia Nadeau, resided in Torrington until 2012.  She now lives in Ellington with one of my 5 sisters.

Community involvement: I have been a member of the Torrington Democratic Town Committee for over a decade.  I have also been active in the Litchfield County Bar Association, having served as Law Day Chair, Secretary, Vice President, President, and Past President.  I am a member of the Board of Directors at LARC and serve as Secretary of the Board.  I also serve on the Board of Directors at KidsPlay.  Additionally, I volunteer at St. John Paul the Great Academy, where my son attends school.

Why I am running: My father was a proud Marine who served in the Korean War.  Growing up, I watched him channel his passion for helping veterans into serving in almost every single local veteran organization, creating the Veteran’s View television program on Cable 5, and serving on the Final Honors Squad to honor veterans who had passed away.  He instilled in me that you should take what you are good at and combine it with what you are passionate about in order to serve others and help your community.  That is why I am running for office. I found my passion in the legal field and I want to take those skills and use them to serve my hometown in the best way I can.

Constable Candidate

Education: THS Class of 1998, Bachelors of Arts from Boston College, 2002

Occupation: Executive Vice President of the UFCW Local 371.  In this capacity I represent workers in a variety of private sector industries such as supermarkets, food production, food service, healthcare, and others.  Each day I fight to make sure that working families receive the pay that they deserve, have access to affordable healthcare and retirement security, and have fair scheduling that allows them to build a better life by taking time off to rest, spend time with family, and contribute to their places of worship and their community.

Family:  My husband, Chris and I have three daughters, Bayly, Cali and Josie.

Community Involvement:  I am the First Vice President of the CT AFL CIO, a member of the Governor’s Workforce Council.  I raise money for Make a Wish and other local charities, hosting an annual golf tournament which raises over $30,000 per year. 

City Positions Held: I have served as an elected Constable for four terms, City Council for one term and on the Torrington Democratic Town Committee for nineteen years.  I have had the privilege of presiding over dozens of weddings as a Justice of the Peace.

Why I am Running for Office:  When my husband and I decided to return to the NW Corner following college, we took a different route than many of our friends, and chose to move back into Torrington, instead of one of the wealthier surrounding towns.  We wanted our children to grow up in a diverse, working-class community.  Over the over 10 years since our oldest daughter started going to school in Torrington Public Schools, we have watched the tax burden be transferred more and more onto the shoulders of residents, as our tax base diminished. At the same time, we have seen our wonderful educators do more with less year over year. I believe that we cannot cut our way to growth. We must invest in economic development which will bring more businesses to town and allow us to invest in our education system.  With the opening of our beautiful new high school and middle school, if we can invest in our educators, more young families will want to move back here and put down roots.  We have always taught our daughters that if you believe in something, you need to put the time in and fight for it.  I believe in Torrington’s potential, but we need to grow our tax base in order to fully invest in our people.   

Constable Candidate

Education: M.A., Public Administration, University of Connecticut (2012); B.A., International Relations, Texas State University (2009); Certificate in Public and Non-profit Management (UCONN, 2012); Certificate in Business Administration (Miami University, 2025)

Occupation: Senior Director of Operations at Rescue | The Behavior Change Agency

Family: Husband (Mike) and two young children (Matthew and Emma)

Community involvement: I currently serve on the Executive Committee for the Women & Girls Fund of the NW CT Community Foundation. Additionally, I led the development of the Weekend Food Backpack Program that supports students within the Torrington Public Schools to receive a weekend's worth of meals to fill the nutritional gap they may be experiencing on weekends in partnership with Gifts of Love and Torrington PAL.  On a state level, I am on the boards for the Diaper Bank of CT as well as Covenant to Care for Children, and I am a past president of the Junior League of Hartford.  

City positions held: I have not previously served in an elected or appointed role, but I'm thrilled to be running on the democratic ticket in this year's municipal election.

Why I am running: I believe in the potential of Torrington and the economic and cultural opportunities we can create to become a thriving city. Hearing stories from my mother-in-law, Mary Anne Sok, who served on the Torrington Board of Education in the 90's, I am inspired by where we've been as a community and where we are headed.  

Constable Candidate

Education: Torrington High School Class of ‘84: St. Peters Catholic School Class of ‘80

Occupation: Sandwich artist at Subway in Torrington; Head Boys Soccer Coach at Oliver Wolcott Tech

Family: Wife Deborah, one son Tony and four stepdaughters—Kerri, Emily, Jenna and Melissa and six grandchildren.

Community Involvement: Member of the Sons and Daughters of Italy Concordia Lodge 20—past President, member of Unico Torrington Chapter, member Knights of Columbus. Past volunteer soccer coach for Torrington Youth Soccer.

City Positions Held: This will be my first.

Why I want to serve: I've lived in Torrington for most of my life, and this community has meant a great deal to me especially during my battle with cancer, when the support I received made all the difference. I see the need for change in our community and want to be part of making that change a reality.