The configuration of the Warren Town Council that has stayed consistent since November of 2018 will change this fall, as two members have declared they will not seek bids for re-election.

In letters submitted to the Times-Gazette during two previous editions this month, both P. Brandt Heckert and current Vice President of the Council, Steve Calenda, announced they were not going to be running again in 2024.

Heckert, first elected in 2014 to a two-year term after unsuccessful bids in 2010 and 2012, lost a re-election bid in 2016 but re-gained the seat for a two-year term in 2018 and ran unopposed, alongside Calenda, in 2020 for a four-year term that will come to an end in November.

Calenda, who ran unsuccessfully back in 2010, eventually earned his seat on the board in 2018 for a two-year term and then won re-election in 2020 for a for-year term.

Due to a change to the Warren Town Charter approved by voters back in 2022, the two council seats now open for the taking will be for four-year terms.

Asked if he would like to look back on his terms in office, Heckert politely declined. His letter submitted to the Times-Gazette provided some insight into his thinking.

“My decision to step down is not made lightly. It stems partly from a need to allow time for new pursuits in my life and from a desire to allow new voices and fresh perspectives to emerge in our local government,” he wrote. “I truly hope that the seat I relinquish will be filled by someone who shares a passion for service to our town, someone who is as committed to our community’s welfare as I have strived to be.”

Heckert also stated he would remain an “active participant” in the community.

“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to my fellow Council members, town staff, and all the dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly for the benefit of Warren. Your collaboration and support have been invaluable, and together, we have achieved much,” he said. “To the residents of Warren, thank you for your trust and support over the years.”

Calenda recaps time in office, and his career
Reached on Monday, Calenda was at peace with his decision to exit public service.

“I have zero regrets,” he said. “I’m retiring because I feel like I’ve done what I wanted to do and want to give an opportunity to somebody else.”

Calenda, who spent 22 years as a member of the Bristol Police Department, retiring as a Sergeant at the end of 2008, said that he had always felt a calling to public service. So much so, that just a couple short weeks after retiring from the Bristol Police, the then-44-year-old Calenda re-joined the U.S. Army to deploy to Iraq in January of 2009, serving at a forward operating base south of Baghdad. He had originally served in the Army immediately following his graduation from high school in 1981.

During his time in office, Calenda also spent two terms (four years total) as the chairman of the Joint Finance Committee, which oversees the budget of the Bristol Warren Regional School District.

He said that, similar to the overturn seen in Warren during the last few years — where Town Managers, Town Planners, and finance directors have come and gone with rapidity — the turnover of superintendents was a challenge in trying to manage different personalities while also overseeing a budget that now approaches $60 million.

“When you get all of these different opinions in a room, it can be challenging at times,” he said. “I know, like anyone else, we can get passionate about issues we discuss, and I’m no different than anyone else, I can get passionate about certain issues. But I really believe strongly in my heart we were doing the best for the town at the end of the day.”

Asked if he felt he was leaving the Town in a good place despite the recent financial struggles the town is encountering following a $13 million lawsuit settlement that essentially wiped out Warren’s sizable rainy day fund, Calenda said he had faith in the people that were now in charge.

“I think it’s going in the right direction. I think we have a good town manager in place, we have good department heads, and I’m comfortable in thinking that they’ll move us in the right direction,” he said. “All the new businesses we’ve had open up, both restaurants and small business shops, they see Warren as a place of great opportunity.”

Now that he’s 61, Calenda said he looked forward to spending retirement with his wife and son, and doing some traveling in the coming months. And he didn’t close the door to involvement in some municipal activities going forward.

“Will I have an interest on getting on a board? You never say no. But right now I think our boards are in good shape,” he said. “Hopefully the next folks that come in take it to the next level.”

With filing deadline looming, only one has declared so far
The deadline for candidates to file in local elections is Wednesday afternoon, which is after the Times-Gazette press deadline on Tuesday morning. As of that deadline, only one candidate, Derrik Trombley, has filed papers to run for an open Town Council seat.

We will follow up with a story next week about who has declared for office following the local and General Assembly filing deadlines.