Playing an active role in his community is something Chris Ehlert does every day. The Westbrook resident, husband, and father of two enjoys his involvement in the town as a Board of Selectmen member and chairman of the Energy Committee.

"It's important to be involved in your community, because if you're not involved or at least engaged when decisions are being made, those things can pass you by," Chris says.

Before becoming heavily involved with his town, the Guilford native attended Fordham University with aspirations of becoming a lawyer. After interning during his junior year at a law firm, Chris realized a law career wasn't for him. But his opinion about the importance of staying active led him to earn a degree in political science with a concentration in public administration.

Chris began to become a fixture in Westbrook around 2003, after a conversation with a former state representative. After the talk, Chris became involved with a number of boards and commissions, serving on the Board of Finance and Zoning Commission, and as the Zoning Commission's liaison to the Inland Wetlands Commission.

Chris is currently working at United Illuminating as a manager of energy services. There, he oversees eight individuals and is responsible for a $16 million budget.

Between his day job and duties on the Board of Selectmen and Energy Committee, Chris is busy, but says that his wife Melissa and daughters Zoe and Gabriella are the ones that help make his role in town possible.

"I'm very fortunate that my wife and my two daughters are very supportive, not only with my work schedule, which is very trying and has long hours, but also I spend a fair amount of time in Town Hall with the Board of Selectmen meetings or other meetings that I might attend. I'm very fortunate that they are patient and allow me to participate in the community," he says.

Although Chris devotes a large amount of time to his job in New Haven and role as a town leader in Westbrook, he says he always makes it a point to be there for his wife and daughters. Whether for family vacations in Florida, coaching a softball team, cheering from the sidelines at a soccer game, or attending a band recital, Chris says that he and his wife will be there, adding that he's lucky wife Melissa devotes so much of her time volunteering at their daughters' school.

The couple's children, aged 12 and 10, are beginning to become aware of dad's involvement in the community and time spent at Town Hall. Recently, Zoe ran for class treasurer and Chris couldn't have been more proud.

"It was cool for me in terms of seeing her running for an office at school. It was fun to watch her make up her posters," Chris says. "She wanted to have something to give away at school so we went online and bought her three-inch diameter stickers that said 'Zoe for Treasurer', so it was very cool to see her looking forward to doing that."

These days, Chris stays busy working on projects, including finalizing the town's recommended budget and working to replace the 50-year old boilers at the high school in a way that will provide cost savings to the town in the future. Being as involved as Chris is, he wouldn't have it any other way.

"What's rewarding about it is that you do see how decisions that you make impact our community and you hope that your decisions impact the community in a positive way," he says.