SHARE

Tracey Hopes To Climb to Weston Selectman Seat

WESTON, Conn. – Dennis Tracey grew up in Westchester County, but he "became disenchanted" with his town. His wife, Marcia Hamelin, found Weston on the Internet. "She said, 'I found our town.' I said, 'I've never heard of it,'" said Tracey. "She said it was a small town with the right kind of feel for our family. We visited, and she was absolutely right."

Tracey, his wife and their four kids – Kristen, Libby, Janey and Henry — are now happily living in town. "Weston is everything Marcia told me it would be. It's a small town with caring people, volunteerism and an excellent school system," said Tracey.

A Republican, Tracey is a co-chair of the Charter Revision Committee, is chair of the Lachat Building Committee and was the chair of the Legal Review Committee. And now, he is trying to win a spot on Weston's Board of Selectmen in November.

He credits his work ethic to his parents, who taught him to work hard and appreciate what he has. "My father grew up in the Depression. He was born in 1925 and was one of 12 children. He never took anything for granted," said Tracey, who is passing on those traits to his children. "The key attribute to pass onto children is to be honest. And hard work and volunteerism – it's our responsibility to pass that on. It's hard because there's a lot of temptation to not be honest."

Tracey and his wife volunteer in the schools: Both are parent coaches for the mock trial team, first at the middle school and now at the high school.

"You take 12-year-olds and turn them into lawyers. They get a case and are assigned roles. They compete with other schools," said Tracey. "The kids are really devoted – last year they were state champs."

Tracey works in Manhattan as the regional managing partner for the Americas at Hogan Lovells, a large international law firm. He attended Fordham Prep for high school, completed his undergraduate degree at Cornell University and went to New York University's law school.

As for hobbies, Tracey is passionate about cycling and will go wherever the mountains are. Most of the events he cycles are for charity, such as the Pan-Mass Challenge, in which he pedals from Sturbridge, Mass., to Provincetown, Cape Cod. The event raises at least $30 million for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Jimmy Fund, Tracey said.

Alpe D'Huez in France is the most difficult mountain he has cycled. "It's one of the hardest climbs in France," said Tracey. "The physical challenge is really satisfying. There's social support with the team – it's a great team-building exercise."

The Daily Weston is profiling each of the candidates in the 2011 elections. You can find our stories here 

to follow Daily Voice Westport and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE