Sanders Family All About Serving City
By Chris Seymour | Correspondent at January 21, 2024 | 6:15 pm | Print
For the Sanders family, serving the City of New Britain is simply in their blood.
Jim Sanders, Sr., the longest serving Board of Education member (32 consecutive years) in the state’s history, and his wife, Mary Lou, a longtime member of the New Britain Republican Town Committee, inspired their son and daughter—newly elected Alderman Jim Sanders Jr. and freshman Board of Education member Gayle Sanders Connolly—to jump into the political arena.
“To see the things that they have done and the respect that they have from many, many administrations and just people across the board—it doesn’t matter what side you are on, there is a lot of respect for my parents, which is nice,” said Sanders Jr., who, like his sister was elected to his first term in November 2015.
While Sanders Connolly stated “It feels really good” to follow in her parents footsteps and serve the city, she conceded, “I tried to stay away from politics as much as I could—and that’s why I chose the Board of Education, because I think that should be the most un-political arena.”
Though she is a first-term member of the Board of Education, Sanders Connolly, a 1987 New Britain High School graduate, is no stranger to serving the city.
“I have been a volunteer in the city since my son was probably 2, just not in the political arena, but with the school programs and the sports programs in New Britain,” she said.
As a school board member, Sanders Connolly is following in the footsteps of her father, a 1953 graduate of New Britain High (his mother, Mary Lou, was in the same class).
Sanders Sr. served eight four-year terms on the Board of Ed before retiring.
“I love New Britain; I was born here and I will die here and it is a great city,” said Sanders, Sr., who added that it gave him “great” pride to see his kids following in the footsteps of he and his wife.
Mary Lou Sanders—who recently capped a 12-year run on the Board of Assessment Appeals—said she is proud to see her kids follow in her footsteps.
“Though you have to think about the headaches they are going to have,” she said with a laugh. “But if that’s what they want to do—good for them,” added Mary Lou, who has also run for State Senate and State Representative.
Sanders, Jr.— who does commercial renovation work and owns/manages the Chamberlain Square Business Center—said he got his first taste of city politics at his parents suggestion about seven years ago. “They got me involved in the beginning of 2009 when they said, ‘Do you want to run for constable?’” recalled Sanders Jr., who served in that post from 2009-13.
“And once I ran for constable and started going to meetings, that’s what really got me excited and energized about what was happening in New Britain,” he added. “It is really nice to be involved in the city government and knowing and learning how things work; it is very gratifying just to be around and help out and be supportive of what is going on—and also to keep an eye on things and make sure people aren’t trying to screw the residents.”
A 1990 graduate of New Britain High, Sanders Jr. has two children who are also NBHS grads: son Jesse Sanders, age 24, graduated in 2010, and daughter Alisha Sanders, age 20, graduated in 2013.
When asked if his kids might continue the family tradition and get involved one day with city politics, Sander Jr. was unsure—but noted his kids are “community oriented.”
“I have to say that I never thought I would get into politics and then lo and behold at the age of 36 I got involved so I really can’t speak for them at this point,” he said. “I must add that both of my children are very community-oriented and are always willing to lend a helping hand.”
Sanders Connolly, who works as a Business Analyst, has a 17-year-old son, Zachary Connolly, who is a senior at New Britain High School.
When asked if her son might eventually follow in the footsteps of other family members and one day get involved in city politics, Sanders Connolly said she also wasn’t sure. “I don’t know … he will probably more likely be a coach, I would think” than elected an elected official, she said.
