About Kelly

Kelly C. McCarthy

Who is Kelly McCarthy? And why are so many people excited about her candidacy for Councilperson from Hamden’s 5th Legislative District?

As a progressive, Kelly is constantly looking for ways to improve the lot of urban communities. As the product of a “mixed” family tree, Kelly understands that our communities are strengthened by diversity. As one who treasures education, Kelly will use her intellect and organizational skills to stay ahead of the curve on vital issues, and set a thoughtful legislative agenda. And as a person of faith, Kelly will govern her affairs with compassion and a pursuit of the greater good.

From a broad mix of America’s heritage—Creole, Native American, Dutch, Scottish and Irish—Kelly was born in Oregon and transplanted from state-to-state as a child, until landing in Southern Florida, where she spent her high school and college years. She graduated from New College (B.A., Religious Studies), and then continued her higher education at Yale Divinity School, ultimately graduating cum laude with a Masters of Arts in Religion.

Kelly and her husband, Aaron Gustafson, now reside in the heart of the Whitneyville section of Hamden’s 5th District. Yet even before she and Aaron bought their modest home at 83 Treadwell St., Kelly had developed a strong connection with the Southern Hamden community. Among other things, she took part in demonstrations organized on behalf of Newhall residents whose concerns were being ignored in the decision-making process regarding environmental remediation of the adjacent Hamden Middle School.

Soon after putting down roots in the 5th District, Kelly joined the Whitneyville Civic Association (WCA) and began tackling one of the neighborhood’s most challenging issues: traffic. She was a founding member of the WCA Traffic Committee and currently serves as its Chairperson. Among other things, the Traffic Committee has been responsible for pedestrian safety improvements such as the crosswalk and signage at Denicola Park, improved timing of the traffic signal at the Putnam/Whitney intersection, and the School Zone signs on Putnam Avenue.

Since taking over leadership of the Traffic Committee, Kelly has reorganized that body to focus on guiding principles, such as traffic “calming” and community education, and hopes to see the Committee’s ambitious plans begin to materialize in the coming months. Kelly’s penchant for traffic issues comes quite naturally – she learned a great deal of road planning and traffic engineering from her father, a civil engineer and current Traffic Director for Hillsborough County (Tampa area), Florida. As her father has worked for municipalities for nearly his entire career, Kelly is also no stranger to the demands and opportunities of civil service.

In 2004, Kelly was appointed to serve on Hamden’s Clean & Green Commission. In that capacity she provided leadership in organizing local community clean-ups in often overlooked Southern Hamden neighborhoods. She was also instrumetal in the recent placement of attractive, sturdy green trash receptacles throughout the 5th District. In past years, Kelly has organized many local clean-ups in Southern Hamden under the Green Party banner.

Kelly joined the Green Party in 2000, and helped to establish its Hamden Chapter, serving as its Treasurer for the past two years. This past May, she was elected Co-Chair of the Green Party of Connecticut, one of the party’s five state-level positions.

In breaks from her civic involvements, Kelly managed to start her own private tutoring and home school education business, McCarthy Tutoring. This work is a natural extension of her previous work as an educator. In high school, Kelly began tutoring school-age children and while in college, she taught part-time at local independent day schools. Kelly believes that quality educational opportunities are one of the most important municipal obligations. And although her current career scarcely resembles any overtly religious calling, she considers education and community service to be her “ministry” and opportunity to positively influence our community and the world at large.