​Josh Eddinger

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With over 20 years of experience as a small business owner, land developer, and longtime community member, Josh brings both practical knowledge and a strong commitment to smart, balanced growth. For the past 8 years, he has served on the Durham Planning and Zoning Commission, helping guide important decisions that shape the future of the town while preserving the character that makes Durham special.

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Josh has played a key role in modernizing Durham’s zoning regulations to meet the evolving needs of residents and businesses. He helped lead the effort to rewrite the town’s residential zoning code, expanding housing availability and affordability to better serve individuals and families at all stages of life. He also worked to streamline and broaden business uses, making it easier for entrepreneurs to start and operate businesses—including home-based businesses—while maintaining community standards. These changes have helped create a more flexible, inclusive, and economically vibrant Durham.

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With advanced training in physics and engineering, Josh brings a unique analytical approach to planning and land use decisions. He understands the technical side of infrastructure, development, and environmental impact, and uses that knowledge to evaluate proposals with precision and long-term thinking.

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What sets Josh apart is his experience on both sides of the zoning table. As a small business owner and applicant before the Commission for over two decades, he knows firsthand how zoning decisions affect real people—homeowners, entrepreneurs, and local families. That perspective helps him focus on solutions that are practical, fair, and community-oriented.

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Josh has been a consistent advocate for transparency, public input, and thoughtful decision-making. He believes the best outcomes come from open conversations and a willingness to listen to all sides.
 

Now, Josh Eddinger is running for re-election to continue serving Durham with integrity, experience, and a deep commitment to the town’s future. As Durham faces new challenges and opportunities—from housing to economic growth—Josh is ready to keep working hard for a community that is strong, inclusive, and well-prepared for what’s ahead.

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​Chris Balay

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Chris Balay and his wife, Suzy, have been residents of Durham for 23 years.
 

They have sent 2 children through RSD13. Chris has a BA from Southern Connecticut State University and has been the Director of I.T. for PEZ Candy Inc. in Orange CT for 25 years.

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He has served as a member of the Planning and Zoning Board for seven years, Recreation committee for 1.5 years and Inland Wetlands for four years.

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Chris is a founding member and former treasurer of Paperhouse Productions, a local children's theatre company.

He is currently the treasurer of the Durham Fair Foundation and Superintendent of Maps & Schedule and a member of the Art Department at the Durham Fair.

Chris is a strong advocate for agriculture in the Town of Durham. He currently has alpacas, goats and chickens. He is also a strong advocate for personal property rights and cooperative regulations. 

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Janet Morganti

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• Longtime Durham Resident & Community Volunteer – Janet Morganti has lived in Durham since 1984 and has served her church, school district, and the Town of Durham in various volunteer roles.

• Educational & Professional Background – Holds a B.S. in Law Enforcement Administration from the University of New Haven; has experience as a small business owner, administrative accounting assistant, and office manager.

• Entrepreneurial Ventures – Former owner of a luncheonette in Wallingford and the Colors of the Wind Artists’ Emporium and Consignments in Durham.

• Economic Development Leadership – Served on the Durham Economic Development Commission, including six years as chair, focusing on promoting local business growth.

• Planning & Zoning Contributions – Elected in 2021, helped create regulations supporting agriculture, commerce, and expanded residential property uses.

• Second-Term Goals – Seeks re-election in 2025 to help update Durham’s Plan of Conservation and Development to reflect changes since the 2016 version and continue to revise existing regulations and draft new regulations that will benefit Durham.

Peter Lynch

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Peter Lynch is proud to call Durham home. Raised in Wallingford, Peter has lived in Durham for more than 20 years and, with his wife, Kelli—who was born and raised here—is raising their two daughters, Reegan (16) and Rowan (12). In his free time, Pete can often be found walking the family’s black lab, Tucker, and golden retriever, Baxter, or on the basketball court coaching the CBC girls. His family has deep ties to the community: his mother-in-law worked for many years in RSD13, and his niece and nephew are current students in the district.

Professionally, Peter serves as a Senior Learning Partner in the Risk Control organization at Travelers Insurance, where he works with leaders to support the learning and development needs of staff, drive strategic growth, improve processes, and partner with customers to improve risk management practices. Locally, he has been an active member of the Durham Economic Development Commission for the past two years, currently serving as co-chair.

As a Democratic candidate for Planning & Zoning, Peter believes in a balanced approach to Durham’s development—protecting the town’s character while supporting thoughtful, strategic growth. He is committed to listening to residents, learning from diverse perspectives, and making bold, forward-looking decisions that serve the best interests of the entire community

John DeNunzio (Alternate)
 

• Lifetime Durham resident

• BFA University of Connecticut, MFA Rhode Island School of Design

• 35-year teaching career at North Branford High School

• Planning and Zoning Alternate since 2019

• Deeply concerned advocate for moving Durham into the future while respecting town history and character

 

Trish Dynia (Alternate)
 

Patricia (Trish) Dynia is running for an alternate seat on the Planning and Zoning Commission.  Trish grew up in Middletown, CT, attended local schools, and obtained her BA in American History from Charter Oak State College. Her first adult job was as a clerk/typist in the Planning and Zoning office in Middletown, CT where she was responsible for composing the minutes and public hearing transcripts for this agency.  She moved to Durham in 1994.  

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While raising a family with husband Bob, Trish initially became involved with town government as the recording secretary for several town agencies, including Inland Wetlands, Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation, DMIAAB, Historic District, Senior Board, and as a fill-in for Planning and Zoning and the Board of Selectmen. She was also a reporter for the Town Times, primarily composing local history articles, and covered town meetings in both Durham and Middlefield.  Trish is a past member of Durham’s Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency, Historic District Commission, and served for several years as a town meeting moderator.  She is currently a member of the Sustainable Durham Task Force.

 

These experiences have provided her with a broad understanding of the duties and responsibilities members take on in order to develop and implement goals, objectives and policies, while adhering to zoning regulations and plan of development.