Patch Candidate Profile: Margaret Bratton, Avon Town Council

AVON, CT — Avon Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Avon resident Margaret Bratton is running for the Avon Town Council as a Republican.

The following is Bratton's questionnaire sent to Patch:

Name

Margaret Bratton

How old will you be as of Election Day?

Age 57.

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://www.avonrtc.com

What city or town do you live in?

Avon

What office are you seeking?

Town Council

Please give us your party affiliation.

Republican

Education

Bryant University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Human Resources Management major.

What is your occupation?

I am currently on the Avon Board of Finance and have been for 18 years. Prior to that, I worked for Navy Resale and then Aetna. Then I took time off to raise my 3 children and to take care of my elderly mother.

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

My husband, Ken, and I raised our three children, Abigail, Tessa, and Neil, in Avon. They all went through the Avon Public School system and graduated from Avon High School. Now all three have graduated from college and are living out of state.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

I have been elected to the Avon Board of Finance from November 2005 to the present.

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I am running for Town Council to ensure that all Department Master Plans maintain Avon's unique small-town feel and follow the most logical and least expensive path. I also want to prioritize the safety and other concerns of Avon citizens and push back against State and Federal issues and policies that negatively change Avon and our local control.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

What I am hearing, in my face-to-face discussions with my fellow residents, is that the single most pressing issue facing them is the compounding increase of local property taxes. I intend to focus on controlling spending to prevent unwarranted tax increases.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The Republicans remain focused on what is best for Avon and do not want outside influences and agendas to interfere with that primary focus.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

Right now, we have one-party rule at the National, State, and Local government levels. Voting Republicans back into the majority on the Town Council would give us the chance to stand up against state mandates and put the priorities of Avon back as the priority.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

I think that it is important for Avon to refocus on being a pro-business community, in order to encourage new businesses to fill our empty storefronts.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My experience on the Board of Finance for 18 years, gives me a strong understanding of the town's budget and all of the programs that the town needs to run.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

"Good leadership requires empathy, vision, and transparency."

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have lived most of my life in Avon, and even graduated from Avon High School, so I have always loved this town and cared about our residents and business owners. I understand Avon's obligation to all of its generations, and I will continue to keep that in mind when forming my decisions for the present and for the future of Avon.