Opening & Closing Statements from Candidates Forum on October 18.

Opening Statement

My wife Jenifer and I have lived in our first and only home on Contour Drive for 21 years, where we raised our 2 children, Cara and Patrick.

In 2005, we began a small charity event on our street that 2 years later expanded to the entire town as a form of healing from a tragedy. 10 years later, Cheshire’s Lights of Hope has raised over $800,000 for many local charities. I have shown the care and compassion I have for this community. I will bring that same care and compassion to the Town Council.

I have a BS degree in Business-Economics and have worked for Michaels Jewelers for the past 35 years. I am currently the manager of the Estate and Appraisal departments. In my business, we have seen recessions hit a number of times. We know the only way to survive them is by cutting expenses while still trying to make a profit. We need to take the same approach when a town faces a fiscal crisis. I can use my business skills to help Cheshire navigate through these difficult times. Cheshire is ready for a New Voice and a New Vision.

Closing Statement

I would like to thank the League of Women Voters for putting this forum together.  As a first time politician, it is a different experience to be on this side of the room.

I want to also thank Michael Milone and the 6 department heads who gave up time in their busy schedules to meet with me on a one to one basis over the past couple of weeks. It gave me a great incite to the inner workings of their departments. I went into each meeting with some pre-conceived notions of what was going on in their areas and left with a completely different view. We have great leaders overseeing these departments and they are doing some great things. There will be a lot asked of our Town Manager and the department heads over the next few months and years, but I feel confident that they are all up for the task, as will I.

I chose to run for town council because I care so much for this town and I feel I can continue helping this community on a grander scale by using my business and charitable work background.

Thank you to my wife and kids for allowing me to spend so much time on this election and for supporting me through it all.