Thank you to everyone who supported my campaign. Unfortunately, I was not successful in retaining my seat on the Waterford Board of Finance. I AM, however, very excited to say that my mother, Deb Roselli Kelly, and my partner, Emmy Franklin, won their respective races!!!

My race was an uphill battle from the start - but I still believe in my vision for Waterford and my ability to substantively contribute to the betterment of this town, and I appreciate all of you who share this vision with me. Rest assured, I won't be going away any time soon, and I will continue to be engaged with Waterford's community and governance as much as I can. You'll see me on the ballot again in two years!
ABOUT JOSH

I’m Josh, a politician and performer based in southeastern Connecticut.
Joshua Steele Kelly (Josh) grew up in Waterford, CT, and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wheaton College (MA) and his Master of Public Administration and Graduate Certificate in Public Financial Management by the University of Connecticut. Professionally, he previously served as Town Manager & Chief Executive Officer for the Town of Winchester, CT, and before that he served as the Town of Bolton, CT's Town Administrator. He is a Certified Community Action Professional and has been a Certified Connecticut Municipal Official. He is an elected official in his hometown of Waterford, CT. He also performs regionally on stage whenever possible.
I'm running for Board of Finance in Waterford this fall. Please read more about how you can support my campaign and consider donating today!

Passion for Service

TVCCA Leadership
Josh has served as the CEO of the Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA), a federally-designated community action agency charged with abolishing poverty in southeastern CT, since October 2023. TVCCA administers 30 different anti-poverty programs across eastern Connecticut with the help of approximately 400 employees and numerous subcontractors.
Volunteerism
Outside of his employment, Josh currently serves as a member of the Waterford Board of Finance and formerly has served as both the Minority Leader on Waterford's Representative Town Meeting and as a member of the Waterford Inland Wetland & Conservation Commission. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors and as the Treasurer for Sustainable CT, a state-wide nonprofit dedicated to assisting municipal governments with improving their community’s sustainability in a multifaceted manner; he is the founder and Chair of the Wheaton College Model United Nations Alumni Association; and he is a founder and executive producer of the annual East Lyme Theatre Festival. In his spare time, you can find Josh performing on stage, reading, and hiking. You can learn more about his performance history here.​

Current & Upcoming Events

No upcoming events. Check back in the near future to hear more about performances and office hours!

In Action

Contact Josh

Josh is an active part of the community in a multitude of ways, and he is also always looking for more ways to get involved and to give back. If you are interested in discussing Josh's work with him or requesting his services as a performer, campaign strategist, speaker, or Justice of the Peace, please click here to reach out to him.