Selectman

Cristin McCarthy Vahey
1625 Melville Avenue
mikeandcristin@fairfield2011.com

Cristin’s leadership abilities have benefited Fairfielders for some time now. Elected to serve District 6 on the RTM in 2005, Cristin was named Deputy Moderator in 2007 and elected Minority Leader in 2009. Her colleagues in both parties appreciate her principled approach to every task, dedication to understanding all perspectives on difficult issues, and ability to work effectively with many different people. They also know Cristin’s warm smile is backed by steely determination and a formidable work ethic.

Cristin and Mike Tetreau, candidate for First Selectman, are running as the Democratic team that’s “Ready to Lead!”

An Engaged Community Leader

  • The Fairfield Democratic Town Committee tapped Cristin to serve as the 2009 Campaign Chair for all town-wide offices. She is the DTC’s Assistant Leader for District 6
  • Cristin’s record of community service includes leadership roles with the League of Women Voters, Stratfield School PTA, St. Pius X Church, and the Board of Education’s Cultural Diversity Task Force. She was also a founding member of the Fairfield Cares Task Force on Alcohol and Health.

A Consensus Builder and Tireless Worker

  • As a member of the League of Women Voters’ 2003 committee tasked with evaluating Fairfield’s budget process, Cristin began to learn about town operations and was inspired to get more involved.
  • As an RTM member and Minority Leader, she has had the opportunity to review the budget from the inside, spending countless hours studying every detail and conferring with colleagues in an effort to ensure all voices are heard and considered before a budget is passed. “What I’ve learned is there is always room for improvement,” she pointed out in an op-ed  outlining her recommendations for improving the budget process.

A Mom, Social Worker and Dynamic Organizer

  • Cristin’s successful professional career has included work in juvenile detention, church ministry and most recently, as a social worker specializing in child welfare.
  • She graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and government and has a master of social work from the University of Washington School of Social Work.
  • Cristin now commits her time to her family and community service. She and her husband, Brian Vahey, settled in Fairfield’s Stratfield neighborhood in 2002 and are busy raising three children ages 13, 8 and 4.

Learn more about Mike and Cristin here.