Board of Assessment Appeals - 2025 Candidate Comparison

Election Date: November 4, 2025

Seats Available: 1 (four-year term)

Vote for: One candidate

Term Length: 4 years

Position Overview

The Board of Assessment Appeals provides independent review of property tax assessments, hearing appeals from property owners who believe their assessments are incorrect. This quasi-judicial body has authority to increase, decrease, or maintain property valuations, directly affecting individual tax bills and ensuring fairness in Weston's property tax system.

Key Responsibilities:

• Hear appeals from taxpayers regarding property assessments
• Review evidence from both taxpayers and town assessors
• Make impartial decisions on property valuations
• Correct clerical errors in assessments
• Administer certain tax exemptions
• Ensure fair and equitable property taxation

How to Vote

Vote for ONE candidate for a four-year term on the Board of Assessment Appeals.

Candidate Summary Table

CRITICAL RESEARCH NOTE

Lisa Zhang's candidacy could not be confirmed despite extensive research including:

• Web searches
• Connecticut Secretary of State sample ballot
• Weston Today Republican slate announcements
• Town of Weston official websites
• Local news sources
• Professional databases

No evidence found that Lisa Zhang is running for Board of Assessment Appeals in 2025.

Confirmed BOA 2025 Candidates:

• Anne Kendall (D) - 4-Year Term
• Barbara Reynolds (D) - Listed in some sources
• Marylou Jamieson (R) - 2-Year Term (separate race)

Confirmed Candidate Profile

Anne Kendall (Democratic - Incumbent)

Current Position:

• Vice Chair, Board of Assessment Appeals (2021-present, 4 years)
• Term expires November 4, 2025

Professional Background:

• Technical Director, Theatre Fairfield at Fairfield University
• Oversees technical aspects of theatrical productions: scenic design, lighting, production management
• Faculty member at Fairfield University
• Over 25 years in technical theatre

Education:

• MFA (Master of Fine Arts) - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (Theatre)
• BA - University of Alabama

Notable Theatre Productions:

• "Authenticity" (Scenic Designer/Technical Director)
• "Love and Imagination" (Technical Director)
• "Project X" (Technical Director)
• Multiple other Theatre Fairfield productions

Board of Assessment Appeals Experience:

• First Elected: November 2021 (ran unopposed, received 1,922 votes)
• Current Term: 4 years as member, serving as Vice Chair
• Leadership: Demonstrates trust from fellow board members through Vice Chair role
• Experience: 4 years hearing property assessment appeals and making determinations

Relevant Skills for BOA Service:

1. Analytical Assessment: Experience evaluating technical specifications in theatre work
2. Attention to Detail: Technical theatre requires precise specifications and measurements
3. Problem-Solving: Finding creative solutions within constraints (budget, space, technical limitations)
4. Project Management: Managing complex theatrical productions with multiple stakeholders
5. Fair Evaluation: Assessing technical proposals and designs objectively
6. Legal Framework: 4 years working within Connecticut property tax assessment statutes

Community Involvement:

• Faculty at Fairfield University (neighboring community)
• Contributes to regional arts and cultural programming
• Mentors students in technical theatre
• Part of regional arts community in lower Fairfield County

2021 Electoral History:

• Ran unopposed as Democratic candidate
• Received 1,922 votes
• Part of Democratic Town Committee endorsed slate

2025 Re-election Campaign:

• Running for re-election to four-year term
• Now facing contested race (if Lisa Zhang candidacy confirmed)
• Democratic Town Committee endorsed
• Campaign events: "Meet the Candidates" October 19, 2025, 11am-1pm, Town Center

Detailed Analysis of Anne Kendall's Qualifications

Understanding Board Requirements

Connecticut statutes emphasize that Board of Assessment Appeals members primarily need:

• Personal Integrity: Commitment to fair and impartial review
• Dedication to Duty: Careful review of evidence and reasoned decisions
• Impartiality: Evaluate appeals without bias
• Sound Judgment: Weigh evidence and apply legal standards

Note: Specific professional expertise in real estate, law, or accounting is not required by statute, though various backgrounds bring valuable perspectives.

Anne Kendall's Four Years of Service

Direct Experience Gained (2021-2025):

• Hearing property assessment appeals
• Reviewing assessor valuations and taxpayer evidence
• Applying Connecticut General Statutes governing assessments
• Making impartial decisions on property values
• Administering oaths and conducting formal hearings
• Understanding legal framework of property taxation

Vice Chair Leadership:

• Elected by fellow board members to Vice Chair position
• Indicates trust, competence, and effective service
• Demonstrates ability to lead and make sound decisions
• Experience with board operations and procedures

Transferable Skills from Theatre Background

Technical Specifications:

• Theatre work requires understanding detailed specifications, measurements, and spatial relationships
• Similar analytical skills apply to reviewing property assessments and comparables

Budget Management:

• Managing theatre production budgets involves resource allocation and cost analysis
• Relevant to understanding property valuations and tax implications

Objective Evaluation:

• Assessing technical proposals requires impartial judgment
• Applies to fair evaluation of assessment appeals

Attention to Detail:

• Technical theatre demands precision in every specification
• Critical for careful review of assessment documentation

Questions for Voters to Consider

About Incumbency & Experience

1. Has Anne Kendall served effectively as Vice Chair for four years?
2. Is board experience more important than specific professional background?
3. Does her Vice Chair role demonstrate competence and trust?

About Professional Background

4. Is technical theatre experience relevant to property assessment work?
5. Are analytical and problem-solving skills more important than real estate expertise?
6. How important is it to have diverse professional backgrounds on the board?

About the Contested Race

7. Would you prefer to see more information about the Republican candidate before deciding?
8. Does running unopposed in 2021 vs. contested in 2025 change your evaluation?
9. Is continuity valuable for this quasi-judicial role?

About Board Function

10. What qualities are most important for Board of Assessment Appeals service?
11. Should members have real estate/appraisal background or can diverse skills apply?
12. Is impartiality and sound judgment more important than technical expertise?

Board of Assessment Appeals Context

Current Board Composition

• Barbara Reynolds - Chairperson (term expires 11/09/2027)
• Anne Kendall - Vice Chair (term expires 11/04/2025)
• Marylou Jamieson - Member (term expires 11/09/2025)
• Marina Coprio - Appointed Alternate (term expires 12/31/2025)
• Christopher Frawley - Appointed Temporary Alternate
• Two vacant alternate positions

Board Operations

• Meets as needed to hear assessment appeals
• Primary appeal season: March-April annually
• Formal proceedings: Documented decisions in meeting minutes
• Quasi-judicial role: Not an assessing agency, but independent review body

Importance to Residents

• Property tax fairness: Ensures independent review of assessments
• Due process: Provides formal appeal mechanism
• Tax burden impact: Decisions affect individual property tax bills
• Property values: Assessment appeals can impact valuations

Recommendations for Voters

If Lisa Zhang Candidacy Is Confirmed

Voters should:

1. Request detailed information about Zhang's background and qualifications
2. Attend candidate forums to hear from both candidates
3. Compare qualifications for this specific quasi-judicial role
4. Consider experience vs. fresh perspective for this board

Given Current Information

With only Anne Kendall's candidacy confirmed:

1. Review her four-year record of service as Vice Chair
2. Consider whether her service has been effective
3. Evaluate whether continuity benefits this board
4. Assess whether her skills and experience qualify her for another term

Resources

Full Candidate Profiles

• Anne Kendall: View Profile
• Lisa Zhang: View Profile - UNCONFIRMED CANDIDATE

Contact Information

Anne Kendall:

• Board Email: Available through Board of Assessment Appeals
• Professional: Theatre Fairfield, Fairfield University
• Campaign: Weston Democratic Town Committee (weston-democrats.org)

Board of Assessment Appeals:

• Location: Weston Town Hall
• Website: westonct.gov - Board of Assessment Appeals
• Meeting Minutes: Available on town website (2015-2025)

Verification Resources

To confirm Lisa Zhang's candidacy:

1. Weston Town Clerk: (203) 222-2616 / (203) 222-2617
2. Weston Registrar of Voters: Official candidate list
3. CT Secretary of State: Official list of nominees
4. Republican Town Committee: westonrtc.org

Additional Information

• Voting: November 4, 2025
• Early Voting: October 20 - November 2, 2025
• Sample Ballot: westonct.gov and Town Clerk's office
• League of Women Voters: Non-partisan candidate information

Understanding Board Function

• CT General Statutes: Chapter 203 (Property Taxes)
• Board Powers: CGS §12-111 through §12-113
• Appeal Process: CGS §12-111
• CT Boards of Assessment Appeals Handbook: Available from OPM

Last Updated: October 15, 2025

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This comparison was created based on a request to compare Anne Kendall (D) vs. Lisa Zhang (R). However, extensive research found no evidence that Lisa Zhang is running for Board of Assessment Appeals in 2025.

Voters should:

1. Verify the actual candidates with Town Clerk or Registrar of Voters
2. Check official sample ballot for accurate candidate list
3. Contact Republican Town Committee if seeking information about their candidate
4. Attend candidate forums to meet candidates in person

If Lisa Zhang's candidacy is confirmed, voters should request the same level of detailed information available for Anne Kendall, including:

• Professional background and relevant experience
• Reasons for running and vision for the board
• Understanding of Board of Assessment Appeals function
• Qualifications for quasi-judicial review of property assessments
• Time availability for hearing appeals
• Commitment to impartial decision-making

Until confirmed, voters should focus on evaluating Anne Kendall's four-year record as Vice Chair and whether her continued service benefits the Board of Assessment Appeals.