Candidate Bio: Selectman Joel Bruzinski

September 23, 2023

Joel Bruzinski is the Democratic candidate running for re-election to the office of Selectman in Sherman.

Joel is a 25-year resident of Sherman.  Since moving to town with his wife Ashleigh Blake in August of 1998, the couple has lovingly restored a home and property in the town’s historic center.  They have enjoyed raising their son Nathaniel and daughter Eden in Sherman.  “It is hard to imagine a better place to raise a family,” says Joel.  The couple proudly watched their children mature through the Sherman school system and on to high school. 

In addition to his current role as selectman Joel has served on Sherman’s Planning and Zoning Commission for a four-year term, the Sherman Historic District Commission for over twenty years, and is currently the representative for the Board of Selectman on the Sherman School Building Committee. He was the Chairman of the Sherman Democratic Town Committee for three years.   Additionally, Joel has volunteered countless hours for the Sherman SPTO and the Sherman Library Association where he identifies his current role as “Chief schlepper and handyman”.

Joel has worked for Pamby Motors, a family-owned Jeep, Chrysler, and Ram dealership in Ridgefield, for over 27 years.  For most of that time, he has been in his current role as General Manager, dealing with all facets of business operations, logistics, inventory management, cost controls, facilities, staffing, and HR.  Joel also serves as the company’s in-house IT Director executing such duties as negotiating, contracting, and on-boarding new communications systems as well as CRM, security, and workflow solutions.  He provides day-to-day support for company hardware and software across all departments.  Joel prides himself on a track record of maintaining well-trained, long-term employees and navigating his company through the pandemic without losing a single staff member. 

Joel has enjoyed his first term on Sherman’s Board of Selectman.  “This has been a particularly strong BOS in my opinion, and I very much enjoy working with both First Selectman Don Lowe as well as Selectman Bob Ostrosky.  Their combined 22 years of experience on the BOS really shows in the quality of work they perform for the community.  I have tried to learn as much as I can from Don and Bob and look forward to putting that knowledge to work for the town as a more seasoned and proficient selectman in my next term.”