Jonathan Pelto, Neighbor

Grew up in Mansfield (Brookside Lane and then Gurleyville Road).  Graduate of Southeast School, the Mansfield Middle School, EO Smith, the University of Connecticut and took courses at the UConn Law School and UConn's graduate program in Political Science.

Have been actively involved in Connecticut public policy, advocacy and electoral politics for 35 years.

Become the Mansfield's Demoratic Town Committee Chairman in 1981, the youngest in state history and then, in 1984, was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives .  Served five terms, rose to the level of Deputy Majority Leader and served as the Chair of the Appropriations Committee on Higher Education and the Chair of the Legislature's Screening Committee (which is Connecticut's version of the powerful Rules Committee in Congress).

Since leaving the Legislature in 1993, I've worked as a communications strategist developing and implementing sophisticated public relations, media relations and advocacy programs aimed at educating, persuading and mobilizing targeted audiences.  His clients have included many of Connecticut’s most significant non-profit organizations, corporations, associations and unions, as well as Native American Tribes.

Over the years I've also also managed or worked on numerous political campaigns at the federal, state and local levels including campaigns Chris Dodd, Gary Hart, Connecticut gubernatorial and congressional campaigns and many state legislative races