Brendan Rae

Brendan Rea serves as the First Selectman of Durham, Connecticut, a town governed by a three-member elected Board of Selectmen under the New England town meeting form of government. Rea won the November 7, 2023 general election for First Selectman, receiving 56.1 percent of the vote against opponent Christopher Balay, who received 43.9 percent. He ran alongside running mate Rob Chadd as part of a joint campaign for Durham's local offices.

As First Selectman, Rea serves as the chief elected official of Durham, a role that encompasses oversight of the town's day-to-day administration, including departments covering finance, emergency management, building and land use, public health, and social services, among others. He has provided regular public updates to residents, including monthly communications through the town's official channels and appearances on Valley Shore Community Television. Rea also represented the town at public events, including remarks at the Durham Veterans Day ceremony on the town green in November 2024.