Mary Messina Glassman is currently serving in her sixth term as First Selectman of Simsbury, Connecticut. She was the first Democrat chosen to lead Simsbury in almost 40 years when elected to her first term in 1991. She has since distinguished herself as one of the most respected leaders in the state, building a reputation as a consensus builder and a strong advocate for education and transparency in government.

Daughter of Angelo and Frances Messina, Mary was born on July 19, 1958 in New Britain, Connecticut. At age four, her father died suddenly, leaving her mother to raise Mary and her three brothers. Despite a difficult situation growing up, Mary worked a newspaper route to help out, delivering the New Britain Herald.

Mary attended Roosevelt Junior High School in New Britain and then went on to graduate at the top of her class from St. Thomas Aquinas High School. When it came time for college, all three of Mary’s brothers went to nearby Central Connecticut State University, while Mary left home. She worked her way through the University of Connecticut, where she majored in journalism. As an undergraduate, Mary served as editor-in-chief of the university newspaper, and went home to New Britain on weekends to wait tables for extra money.

After graduation, Mary headed home to work as a reporter for the New Britain Herald, covering politics and municipal affairs in New Britain. She went on to attend UConn School of Law, taking classes at night and continuing to work as a reporter during the day. As an attorney, Mary represented construction companies and worked on environmental and land-use issues.

In 1991, Mary was elected First Selectman of Simsbury, defeating the Republican incumbent in an upset victory. During her tenure, she passed budgets with zero increases, controlled health costs and fully funded pensions, all while cutting spending and her own salary. She purchased hundreds of acres of open space, and worked hard to foster a climate friendly to business, establishing job centers such as the international skating facility and creating a summer home for the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.

Mary would be re-elected to four terms before stepping down in 1999.

After leaving the office of First Selectman, Mary went to the Capitol and served as legal counsel to the Speaker of the House and the Senate President, where she focused on education, long-range planning, transportation policy, and improving mental health needs. Following the 2004 resignation of Governor John Rowland, Mary served for two years as chief of staff in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.

In 2006, Mary entered the race to become the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor. She defeated her primary opponent 57 to 43 percent, and went on to campaign in every town across Connecticut.

Mary returned to Simsbury in 2007 to serve a fifth term as First Selectman, and would be re-elected in 2009 by nearly 70 percent of the vote.

Under her watch, Money Magazine recently ranked Simsbury among the Top 100 Best Places To Live in America. Simsbury is also the first and only town in Connecticut to make the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of Dozen Distinctive Destinations, as well as the first town in Connecticut to be designated a “Bicycle-Friendly Community” by the League of American Bicyclists. Simsbury was also one of seven towns in Connecticut to recently receive a AAA bond rating -- the highest borrowing rating possible -- at the same time the state’s bond rating has been downgraded.

A proponent of regional cooperation, Mary currently serves as Treasurer of the Capitol Region Council of Governments, and as an executive board member of the Connecticut Council of Municipalities. Also an advocate for children and families, Mary worked for Connecticut Voices for Children, advocating for the expansion of the HUSKY program for low-income families, as well as improvements in the state’s foster care system.

Mary is married to attorney Andrew C. Glassman. She has three children -- recent college graduate Amanda and college students Nathan and Samuel.