About Jill
Jill’s commitment to public service was shaped early. She was raised in a family rooted in service and community. Her father—a Bronx OB-GYN, Vietnam veteran, and first-generation college graduate—cared for women who often could not afford healthcare. Her mother, a public school teacher, instilled the importance of education, opportunity, and giving back. Her grandparents’ stories—from fleeing Nazi Germany to running a small family business in Brooklyn—inspired Jill’s lifelong commitment to democracy, hard work, and investing in one’s community.
Jill’s career in public service began after college with New York City’s Parks Department, gaining firsthand experience in how municipal government impacts daily life. She earned her law degree and worked in private law firms before returning to public service, motivated by a belief that government should work for the people it serves.
A resident for 20 years, Jill and her husband Larry Penn raised their three children in Greenwich, where she built a strong record of community involvement and leadership. She served on the Board of Selectmen, helping guide the town through COVID, and on the Board of Estimate and Taxation, where she was unanimously elected Chair—the first Democrat to hold that seat in town history. During her tenure, she helped keep property taxes low while maintaining strong services and planning for the future.
Jill also served six years on the town legislature, the Representative Town Meeting, and was recently reelected to that body. She founded and chaired the Greenwich Sustainability Committee and has worked with community partners to advance practical, forward-looking solutions.
Jill received a law degree from the University of Chicago and a master’s in Public Administration from Cornell. In addition to her town service, she has worked in government and with nonprofit organizations delivering essential public services, including transportation, parks and recreation, and economic development.
Jill is running for State Senate to bring experienced, balanced leadership to Hartford—focused on strengthening communities, supporting businesses, growing the economy, and delivering results for families in Greenwich, North Stamford, and New Canaan.
