KENT, Conn.—Amidst the hustle and bustle of Sidewalk Sales the first weekend of August, Kent non-profits lined the street of Falcon Field, introducing themselves to passersby and seeking their support.
Among the booths on the field were representatives of both of Kent’s major political parties, distributing information about their slates of candidates for the coming November election. Across the street, Ed Matson, an independent candidate seeking a seat on the Board of Selectmen, was doing his civic duty representing the Lions Club.
Both parties held caucuses in July, and the Democrats tapped longtime town volunteer Eric Epstein as its candidate for first selectman. He is running unopposed.
Epstein is a lifelong resident of the town and attended local schools before earning a business degree from SUNY Cobleskill. Married and the father of two, he is a sales representative for the Gowans-Knight Company in Watertown.
He has been an active member of the Kent Volunteer Fire Department for 30 years, including 13 years as chief. During that time, he oversaw the planning and construction of the town’s firehouse. From 2020 to 2025, he served as deputy emergency management director and was twice appointed interim director.
He currently serves as president of the Litchfield County Dispatch Board of Directors, which provides 911 emergency services to 22 towns. He also represents emergency services on the Kent Center School Safety Committee and has served on various local, county, regional and state-level emergency services committees.
In his speech seeking his party’s nomination, Epstein recounted his experiences in the community and promised that, if elected, his top priority will be “to do what’s right for Kent—for our residents, for our families and for future generations. Every decision I make, every policy I support, will be guided by one central question: Does this make Kent a better place to live, work, and grow?”
He said Kent must be a place where people can afford to live, whether young professionals just starting out or longtime residents who want to retire here with dignity. At the same time that the town needs to make “smart, forward-thinking choices to ensure that Kent is inclusive and accessible to all who want to call it home,” he cautioned it must also protect the things that make Kent what it is—”open space, farmland, its rural character and quiet roads.”
“Growth, when done responsibly, can be a good thing,” he said. “That’s why I believe strongly in thoughtful planning, in building a vision for Kent that includes both preservation and progress. This isn’t about politics. It’s about leadership. It’s about common sense. And it’s about collaboration.”
Joining Epstein on the Democratic ticket is incumbent Lynn Mellis Worthington, who is completing her first term in office. A 35-year resident of the town, she has a background in journalism and communications, which has given her insights into town issues. She currently works as the community engagement coordinator and grant coordinator for Brooker Memorial, a nonprofit in Torrington dedicated to supporting children and families.
She has served, often in leadership roles, on the Park and Recreation Commission, the Broadband and Mobile Communications Working Group and the Kent Sustainability Team. She has long been involved with organizations such as the Kent Volunteer Fire Department, Merwinsville Hotel Restoration, and St. Andrew’s Parish.
Lynn Harrington has stepped up for the Republicans to seek a seat on the Board of Selectmen. Harrington has lived in Kent for 40 years with her husband, Chris, and they have raised two children in the community. She has been involved in town politics for 25 years, serving the Park and Rec Commission, for two years as its chairman, and is currently a member of the Emery Park Subcommittee.
She says she looks forward to working collaboratively with the other selectmen and sharing innovative ideas.
A petitioning candidate has thrown his hat into the ring, as well. Ed Matson, a former selectman who was the 2023 standard bearer in the Republicans’ quest for a seat on the board, will run again.
A third-generation resident, he served as a selectman from 1999 to 2003 and returned for another term from 2019 to 2021. He played a crucial role in the beautification of Emery Park and the refurbishment of the Kent Center School ballfields.
He has been a volunteer with the fire department for 40 years in roles such as chief and president. Professionally, he worked for the state Department of Transportation for more than 25 years and has been a Kent business owner for more than two decades.
The remainder of the endorsed slate for the Republicans consists of David Yewer, Board of Assessment Appeals; Tony DiPentima, Board of Education; Nancy Odea-Wyrick, incumbent, Board of Finance; Karen Casey, incumbent, Planning and Zoning Commission; Donna Hayes, Planning and Zoning Commission; Nick Downes, incumbent alternate, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Mark Cowan, Zoning Board of Appeals.
The remaining Democratic slate includes Glenn Sanchez, currently a selectman, Board of Finance; Deborah Devaux, incumbent, tax collector; Darrell Cherniske, incumbent, Planning and Zoning Commission; Gary Ford, incumbent, Board of Assessment Appeals; Heather Brand, incumbent, Board of Education; Cinda Clark, Board of Education; Elissa Potts, incumbent, Sewer Commission; Catherine Mazza, incumbent, Sewer Commission; Steve Pener, incumbent, Zoning Board of Appeals; John Johnson, incumbent, Zoning Board of Appeals; Justin Potter, incumbent, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Adam Manes, incumbent, Zoning Board of Appeals.
