Brookfield's 1st Selectman-Elect in Bankruptcy

Brookfield's new First Selectman has declared personal bankruptcy, accumulating up nearly $775,000 in debt.

The News-Times reports that Bill Tinsley has debts of $10,000 to the Internal Revenue Service for state unemployment taxes and $20,000 to Connecticut for unpaid unemployment benefits from 2008 to 2010.

The largest debt listed was a $226,124 loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court granted Tinsley's bankruptcy filing in October.

Tinsley does not have a listed number and the newspaper reported he did not return phone calls.

Tinsely, a member of the Board of Finance, campaigned as a sound manager and fiscal conservative.

Exiting First Selectman Bill Davidson said Tinsley failed to be open with the town about his finances.

Tinsley, a Republican, defeated Democrat Howard Lasser by 81 votes on Nov. 5.