2023 Town Elections
Vote for our Candidates!
Mark Kaczynski
Mayor
Mark has served as Berlin’s mayor for the past 8 years. Prior to his election as Mayor in 2015 he served on the Planning and Zoning Commission for 16 years. He has also volunteered at various school events and town functions throughout the past years. Mark was born and raised in Berlin and is married to Faith and has a son, Matthew. Mark attended Berlin schools and has a BA from the University of Connecticut and a JD from Pepperdine University School of Law. Mayor Kaczynski was employed by the United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration for 30 years as a special agent/attorney and is currently employed as the Director of Security for a local company. During the past eight years, Mayor Kaczynski, along with the Town Council, have moved the town forward with the adoption of responsible budgets and sound fiscal management. Zero to low tax increases, a large reduction in our bonded debt, improvements in public safety, proper funding for our schools, and good economic growth, with over $115,000,000 in private investment in Berlin, demonstrate effective leadership from Mayor Kaczynski. In addition, Berlin has the lowest tax mill rate of 25 Greater Hartford area communities. Mayor Mark Kaczynski is committed to the continued growth and vitality of our town and a town government that is responsive to all the citizens of Berlin.
Charles Paonessa
Town Council
Charles Paonessa is serving his tenth year on the Berlin Town Council and is currently the Deputy Mayor. He is owner of DURA Construction providing services in the heavy instruction industry. Charles is currently the President of the Board of Directors for the ReCONNstruction Center in New Britain which sells reusable building materials. Charles also has a long history supporting Troop 44 Boy Scouts in Berlin beginning with his own sons. Charles and his wife Lecia, who works for the Berlin Public Works Department, has owned property in Berlin since 1995. They have four sons and daughters-in-law, and ten grandchildren. Charles’s hobbies include antique cars, motorcycles, gardening, and his fish pond. Charles believes the lack of fiscal responsibility and the “tax and spend” mentality at the State level will continue to adversely impact Berlin. Overwhelming state restrictions and taxes are driving businesses to relocate out of state and burdening on our towns with unnecessary costs. Charles is committed to protecting the interest and pockets of all Berlin citizens and looks forward to a fifth term on the Berlin Town Council.
Donna Veach
Town Council
Donna Veach is a current Berlin town councilor and a State Representative serving District 30 which covers Berlin, Kensington and Southington. She is the Development/Marketing Director for the New Britain Youth Museum and Hungerford Nature Center, and a member of the Berlin Republican Town Committee. Donna was born and raised in New Britain, Connecticut. She moved to Berlin over 30 years ago with her husband Jeff where they raised their three daughters. All three of her daughters are nurses fighting the COVID pandemic. She is also a new grandmother! Prior to Donna’s position on the town council, she served as chairwoman on the Berlin Youth Services Advisory Board. She is a member of St. Paul’s Parish and serves on several other boards and committees. She has a diverse resume where she has worked for both profit and non-profit organizations. She strongly believes in holding the line on spending and tax increases and eliminating wasteful spending. She is currently serving on the Education, Judiciary and Planning & Development Committees in the state legislator.
Sandra Coppola
Town Council
Sandra Coppola and her husband Chris moved to South Kensington the fall of 2010 and operate Triple Bar C Performance Quarter Horses. They chose Berlin based on its farming history, open space and central location. Sandra graduated from the University of New Haven with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration. She has 35 years of experience in the healthcare industry with various roles such as contracting, reimbursement analysis and provider education and training on the insurance side. She has also worked on the clinical side of healthcare in administration as the Director of Operations for a large orthopedic group and as a Business Manager for a large oncology practice. She has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Medical Group Management Association for the past 6 years. Within the Town of Berlin, Sandra has been on the Zoning Board of Appeals Commission, Planning & Zoning as well as the Commission for the Plan of Conservation and Development. She was also the Chair of the Berlin Republican Town Committee for 6 years. Sandra’s goals are to keep the small town feel of Berlin, while still encouraging growth. She believes that the town should manage its own planning and zoning regulations rather than coming from the legislature in Hartford. She is fiscally conservative but also believes that services to the community must continue to be provided, improved and updated. Sandra realizes that budgets are never easy, especially when politics are involved but certainly understands the effects of tax increases, wasteful spending and the benefits of bringing viable projects to Berlin to increase the tax base.
Tim Grady
Board of Finance
About Tim coming soon!
Paul Argazzi
Board of Assessment Appeals
Paul is a lifelong Berlin resident. Paul attended Berlin High School in 1985. Paul and his wife Cindy have a son AJ, age 21, and a daughter Abby, age 17. Paul is an attorney and has attended Colby College and Western New England College School of Law. Paul has served on the Board of Assessment Appeals (2015 to present; current Chairman); Berlin Town Council (1995 to 2007); Mayor (2001 to 2003); Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission (1992-1995); 2 Charter Revision Commissions (Vice-Chairman, 1995 and Chairman, 2016); Republican Town Committee (1992 to present); Corporator, CCARC (2004 to present); South Burying Ground Association (Director, 2008 to present; current President). Paul is also a Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leader and a volunteer baseball and basketball coach. During Paul's 30-year career in public service he has always been a strong taxpayer advocate. As a member of the Board of Assessment Appeals, Paul understands that that the only way to remedy an unfair or incorrect property assessment is to seek relief from the Board of Assessment Appeals. As the Chairman of this board, Paul will ensure that all concerns are heard and hearings held with due process of law to fix the assessment.
Steve Wilson
Police Commission
I am in my 7th year on the Berlin Police Commission and currently serve as its Chairman. I am seeking re-election in November to another 4 year term. I am a semi-retired technology entrepreneur; I founded VERTEX, Inc. in 1991 and when I sold it in 2014, we had 250 employees and over $35,000,000 in annual revenue. During my time as CEO and since selling the company, I serve as a consultant to the Defense Department, State Department and Commerce Department. During the Governorships of John Rowland and of Jodi Rell, I served on the boards of the State Veterans Home and Hospital, the Governors Small Business Advisory Council and the Governors Military Staff. I also provided expert testimony in complex civil cases involving software and related technologies. I served two years on active duty in the US Marine Corps, primarily aboard the Navy’s 6th fleet and in the Middle East, including Beirut. After active duty, I served almost 20 years in the Army Reserve in Field Artillery, Information Technology, and Civil-Military Government. ​This month marks our 30th year living in Berlin and raising our three sons here. I have a strong bond to our town and want to see it safe, prosperous and welcoming. I know I have had a direct and positive impact on our police department especially in the areas of new and invigorated leadership, budget discipline, employee benefits improvements and responsiveness to the public, among others. We have more work to do and I want to continue to lead those efforts.
Dave Rogan
Police Commission
Hello Berlin I My name is David Rogan and this November I am running for reelection to our town's Police Commission. I am a long-time resident of Berlin having lived here for nearly 40 years, while raising my family and starting my business here. Over that time, I have been active in the great programs of our town. From helping found Troop 256, to being a leader in Pack 41, and a Baseball coach in our local youth league. Upon my children growing up and having positive experiences here in town, I decided to continue my volunteer work and took on the role of being the President of the CT Chapter of the West Point Parents Club. ln more recent years I have turned my attention to directly helping the Town of Berlin, which has done so well by my family and me. After becoming a member of the Berlin Republicans I took on the role of one of your Wetland Commissioners and from there becoming one of your Police Commissioners. lt has been a rewarding experience. Getting to know the fine men and women that honorably serve our town has been a pleasure. So far, I am proud of what we've managed to accomplish, from things such as our new pension plan for our officers to upgrades to the department. lf reelected, I promise to continue to work hard to make sure that our officers are well taken care of with the resources and support they need so that they can protect and serve you.