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Weston Elections 2025

Richard Wolf

Candidate for Zoning Board of Appeals

Richard Wolf - Candidate Profile

Position: Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate Party: Republican Election: November 4, 2025 Status: Endorsed by Republican Town Committee, July 15, 20251

Biographical Information

Richard Wolf is a longtime Weston resident2 with a background in construction and contracting.3

Professional Background

Construction/Contracting

Richard Wolf has extensive experience as a contractor, which has been noted as valuable expertise for town building and construction-related committees.3

Professional Discipline: Construction and contracting3

Public Service in Weston

Current Service

Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate

  • Currently serving with term ending November 11, 20254
  • Previously ran unopposed as a Republican in 2023 to fill a vacancy for a two-year term5
  • Seeking reelection in 20251

Previous Town Service

Planning & Zoning Commission

  • Served as Commissioner through at least 202067
  • Participated in affordable housing planning discussions in 2020
  • At December 2020 meeting on affordable housing study, stated: "I think we have to define the deliverables in my mind"6
  • At subsequent meeting, voted with 6-1 majority to approve affordable housing study and stated: "The town has to show it's serious about addressing affordable housing... We have to decide that we really are committed to this — the issue of affordable housing or housing diversification"7

Building Committee

  • Served as a member providing contractor expertise
  • Reappointed in 2011 with support from Building Committee Chairman Don Gary, who emphasized the committee's need for someone with contractor experience3
  • His technical expertise in construction was considered valuable for the committee's work3

Cemetery Committee

  • Former member3

Relevant Experience for Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate

Richard's construction and contracting background provides directly relevant experience for Zoning Board of Appeals service:

  • Building codes and regulations: Professional knowledge of construction standards
  • Site development: Understanding of construction feasibility and constraints
  • Technical review: Ability to evaluate the technical aspects of variance requests
  • Practical application: Real-world experience with how zoning regulations affect construction projects

The Zoning Board of Appeals frequently hears cases involving building setbacks, lot coverage, and other construction-related variances, making Richard's contractor background particularly valuable.

Board of Selectmen Actions

In 2011, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to reappoint Wolf to the building committee, though First Selectman Gayle Weinstein expressed concerns about his conduct on the cemetery committee.3 Building Committee Chairman Don Gary strongly supported the reappointment, stating he had "never known Richard to be cavalier with money" and emphasizing the committee's need for contractor expertise.3

Policy Positions

No public policy statements available at this time.

Campaign Information

  • Endorsed: July 15, 2025 at Republican Town Committee caucus1
  • Running for: Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate
  • Previous election: Ran unopposed in 2023 for a two-year term5

Role of Zoning Board of Appeals Alternates

Alternates serve when regular members have conflicts of interest or are unable to attend meetings. They must be prepared to step in and make important decisions on variance applications and appeals from Planning & Zoning Commission decisions.

Alternates attend meetings regularly to stay informed about cases and board procedures, ensuring they can participate effectively when called upon.

Election Context

Richard Wolf is seeking reelection as a Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate, running on the Republican ticket. His contractor background and prior service on town building-related committees, including the Planning & Zoning Commission, demonstrate relevant experience for this position.

Sources

Last Updated: October 17, 2025

Footnotes

  1. "Republicans Endorse Slate," Weston Today, July 15, 2025. Available at: https://westontoday.news/articles/250715-republican-slate ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  2. Public records and property ownership documents confirm Richard Wolf has been a Weston resident for multiple decades. Wolf and his wife Jane purchased a Mies van der Rohe-designed house in Weston in 1987, one of only three single-family homes designed by the modernist architect in the United States. The property sits on 5.4 acres on the Saugatuck River. Sources include: Multiple news articles referencing the Wolf property (CT Insider, Weston Today), public records searches (age 69-71 as of 2024-2025), and BuildZoom contractor profile showing Connecticut operations. ↩

  3. Lisa Bigelow, "Selectmen Admonish Building Committee Member," Weston, CT Patch, July 8, 2011. Documents 2011 controversy and reappointment. Describes Wolf as "frequent thorn in the side of town government." First Selectman Gayle Weinstein expressed "serious reservations" about his building committee reappointment citing: (1) cemetery committee behavior, (2) financial judgment concerns, (3) Revson Field renovation, (4) sharing private email with public forum. Building Committee Chairman Don Gary supported reappointment, stating "I've never known Richard to be cavalier with money" and noting the committee's need for contractor expertise: "That's the discipline that Richard has." Selectmen voted unanimously to reappoint with warning. Available at: https://patch.com/connecticut/weston-ct/selectmen-admonish-building-committee-member ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  4. "Zoning Board of Appeals," Town of Weston Official Website, accessed October 16, 2025. Lists Wolf, Richard as "Zoning Board of Appeals, Alternate (11/11/2025)." Available at: https://www.westonct.gov/government/boards-commissions/elected/zoning-board-of-appeals ↩

  5. Rich Kirby, "Weston 2023 Election Voter Guide: Candidates, Polling Places," Weston, CT Patch, October 25, 2023. Notes "Republican Richard Wolf is running unopposed" for "Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate, to Fill Vacancy for Two Years." Available at: https://patch.com/connecticut/weston-ct/weston-2023-election-voter-guide-meet-candidates ↩ ↩2

  6. DJ Simmons, "Weston commission seeks clarity in affordable housing plan," CT Insider, December 9, 2020. Documents Commissioner Richard Wolf's participation in Planning & Zoning Commission meeting on affordable housing study proposal. Quote: "I think we have to define the deliverables in my mind." Available at: https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/Weston-commission-seeks-clarity-in-affordable-15789553.php ↩ ↩2

  7. DJ Simmons, "Weston zoning commission approves plan to address affordable housing," CT Insider, December 16, 2020. Documents Commission vote (6-1) to accept affordable housing study. Quote from Commissioner Richard Wolf: "The town has to show it's serious about addressing affordable housing... We have to decide that we really are committed to this — the issue of affordable housing or housing diversification." Available at: https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/Weston-zoning-commission-approves-plan-to-address-15809406.php ↩ ↩2

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