Board of Selectmen

Bob DePietro

A native of East Hartford, Bob and his wife, Dorothy have lived in Bolton for many years, have been married 58 years, have two sons, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Bob has served on the Board of Finance since 2013, is an active senior member (and former financial secretary, Grand Knight and recently appointed Lecturer of the St. Maurice Knights of Columbus; he is a founding member (Emeritus) and former secretary of the board of directors of the Bolton Land Trust. He is also a member of the board of supervisors for the North Central Conservation District, providing expertise with contracts & grants reviews as well as recruiting and personnel matters. Bob holds a B.A. in English and an M.A. in education from the University of Hartford. He taught middle school English for ten years. Later, as an adjunct college professor in Maine, he taught courses on organizational behavior, insurance, and employment law.

Bryce Aaronson

Bryce Aaronson is a dedicated community leader and experienced administrator with over a decade of success in nonprofit management, coalition building, and organizational leadership. He has managed multimillion-dollar programs, guided teams through growth and transition, and secured critical funding to support education, workforce development, and environmental initiatives. Bryce moved to Bolton in 2023 with his wife choosing Bolton as the place to raise his family. He serves with the Bolton Democratic Town Committee and Bike Walk Bolton- reflecting his deep commitment to civic engagement, collaboration, and building a stronger, more connected community for all.

David Cowles

David Cowles is a lifelong Bolton resident who understands the history and future potential of the town. A Bolton High School and UConn graduate, he manages complex engineering projects in the energy sector, developing solutions that require strong problem-solving, clear communication, and fiscal discipline.

Board of Education

James Perkins

Since 2016, James Perkins and his wife have raised their two children in Bolton, who are both students at Bolton High School. Professionally, he leads a corporate Learning & Development team and holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Education, giving him deep insight into how students learn and how schools can plan strategically for the future. James’ leadership emphasizes data-driven decision-making, community trust, and preparing students for the challenges ahead. Inspired by his mother’s decade of service on a school board, he believes Bolton’s schools are the foundation of the town’s success and is committed to keeping them strong for all families.

Grae Norman-Hall

A Bolton native now raising their young daughter here, Grae Norman-Hall has dedicated her career to Early Childhood Education. She has led classrooms, partnered with parents, and adapted to rapidly changing circumstances, including the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their leadership is grounded in empathy, flexibility, and building strong connections between schools and families. With her family’s future directly tied to Bolton’s public schools, Grae is committed to fostering transparency, inviting community participation, and ensuring every child feels a sense of belonging and pride in their education. They believe that when schools and communities work together, children and families thrive.

Denay Johnston

Denay Johnston has been a Bolton resident since 2007. She and her husband, Fabian, chose Bolton to raise their family for its strong schools and close-knit community. They’ve been grateful for how warmly it has embraced their family. Denay is a passionate educator with over twenty years of experience in teaching. She has spent the past 18 years teaching high school Spanish and previously taught 5th grade in Mexico. 

Jennifer Stahl

Jennifer Stahl has been a resident of Bolton since 2009. Jennifer is a lifelong educator, as a teacher of Mathematics at RHAM High School for the last 24 years. She enjoys working with students both in and out of the classroom, and is a strong believer in public education and what it can contribute to the community. She has coached both soccer and track and field at the high school level and served as a mentor to beginning teachers, providing vital support needed to be successful in the current professional climate. Over the course of her career Jennifer has seen the increase in expectations facing our schools and students, and the challenges that come with it.

Finance Committee

Melissa Wielandt

Since moving to Bolton in 2014, Melissa Wielandt has valued the strong schools and close-knit community that drew her family here. At the University of Connecticut’s athletic department, she manages budgets, develops revenue strategies, and works to balance immediate needs with long-term financial stability. Her leadership style is rooted in teamwork, transparency, and shared accountability — qualities she believes are essential for a high-functioning finance committee. Melissa understands that responsible fiscal management is the key to preserving quality schools and services, and she is committed to protecting Bolton’s financial health for current and future residents. 

Planning and Zoning

Ellie King

Ellie King and her husband are raising their toddler in Bolton, where they’ve put down roots after returning to Connecticut in 2023. With a master’s degree in International Development, she has experience working in land use policy, environmental stewardship, and community revitalization, including serving on the board of a nonprofit focused on illegal dumping and littering. Ellie’s leadership blends technical expertise with a genuine passion for public engagement and environmental sustainability. She is committed to ensuring Bolton grows responsibly, balancing the needs of families and businesses with preserving the town’s rural charm and natural beauty for the next generation.

Kawan Gordon

Kawan is a Connecticut native who graduated from Glastonbury High School. He was recently bestowed the title of “Father”, as he and his wife welcomed the birth of their child in July 2025. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from a highly accredited college. He is the former Vice Chair of Bolton’s Diversity Commission, and a current Planning & Zoning Alternate member with a better board meeting attendance record than some full board members that sit across the aisle. In addition to being an entrepreneur, he is a Senior IT Systems Engineer Lead for Connecticut’s largest community-based medical practice. In 2019, Kawan and his wife moved to Bolton. A self-taught craftsman, he has built numerous sheds and outbuildings. He encourages the growth of business development in areas of Bolton zoned for Business. He supports viable initiatives to improve accessibility around town.

Kawan is running for Planning & Zoning because he respects the quaint, small-town charm of Bolton. He moved to Bolton for the small-town atmosphere. His belief is that Bolton can maintain its small town charisma and natural attractions while also exploring safety and modernization projects for concerns such as the I-384, Rt 44, Rt 6 interchange calamity.

Eric Loveland

Eric is a recent transplant to Bolton from Newington. As a lifelong Democrat and social justice advocate, he always wanted to become involved in public service and decided to throw his name in the ring after attending a few Bolton Democratic Town Committee meetings and seeing the enthusiasm for public service exhibited by his fellow Bolton residents. He has had a lifetime interest in service, from his time growing up and obtaining his Eagle Scout award in West Hartford, to his volunteer efforts with Hartford Foodshare and Habitat for Humanity. Eric has also volunteered his vocal talents to the CitySingers of Hartford for the past 18 years, both as a soloist and ensemble member, as well as stints as manager and webmaster. A graduate of Bucknell University in Computer Science, Eric is currently principal software architect for ZSuite Technologies, a financial technology company that he helped build with a number of Hartford-area residents along with a contingent in Austin, TX. ZSuite that works with banks to provide property management, escrow, and subaccountant software to the banks’ commercial and municipal customers.

Alternates:

Peyton Routledge

Rhea Klein

As a resident of Bolton for the past 36 years, I have come to cherish the wonderful lifestyle our town affords through its peaceful surroundings and its proximity to all the shopping and activities one could want. Over the years, I have also noticed and appreciated the commitment of some community members toward the stewardship of the town. When I was asked to become a member of the Bolton Heritage Farm Commission, I was honored to take a roll in the oversight and preservation of our beloved farm. Recently, I was sworn in for another term on the commission. In each of the past four years, I have conducted the well-received Bolton Heritage Farm Yoga Series to provide yoga to the community and raise funds for the preservation of the farm. Additionally, I have helped write successful grants to procure funds for a Revolutionary War Reenactment and to study potential further renovations to the buildings on the farm.

Zoning Board of Appeals

Athina Loveland

My husband and I are new to Bolton, moving here from Newington last year. We longed for the quiet and peace that a place like Bolton could provide, compared to the hustle and bustle of Newington. I had spent the last two years in Newington becoming more involved in local politics by being a member of the Newington DTC, and when we moved here, wanted to continue to find ways to be involved in our new community. While running for office wasn’t something always on my radar, I’ve learned in the short time I’ve been more actively involved that it’s important to take that step, however scary it may seem.

Board of Assessment Appeals

Amanda
Gordon

Town Meeting Moderator

Adam
Teller

A longtime Bolton resident and graduate of Bolton High School, Adam is an attorney practicing in East Hartford. A graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Law School, he has served on Planning and Zoning for many years, including as chairman from 2017 until his election to the Board of Selectmen in 2021.