Patch Candidate Profile: Greg Henry, Bethel Board of Finance

BETHEL, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Bethel and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Bethel Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Business consultant Greg Henry, 55, is running for election to the Bethel Board of Finance as a Democrat. He is a graduate of Bethel High School and the father of four sons of ages 15 to 31.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

Bethel Parks & Rec Commission - 2017 to present

Why are you seeking this office?

I care deeply about the community that I have lived in for most of my adult life. I serve in numerous community organizations as an executive board member as well as an appointed member of the Park & Rec Commission.

I am running for a seat on the Board of Finance in hopes of combining my love for Bethel with my professional experience and managing revenue and expenses for multi-million dollar businesses.

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

The transition taking place in the community.

I will offer my input and insight with the issues facing the community today. Rising costs, development and infrastructure are concerns that need to be carefully evaluated as budgets are constructed. Responsible investment into the community is vital so that we can continue to thrive and move Bethel forward.

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

I believe that I have a 360 view of the community. I am a parent of a current high school sophomore, I'm on the board of multiple youth sports organizations which allows me to engage in conversation with other parents, I have exposure to town government as a member of the Park & Rec commission and my mother is 80 years old and has lived in Bethel for the past 45 years.

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

Failed is a strong word. I believe that the majority of all elected officials that hold local, state and national office believe that they are making decisions that are in the best interest of the constituents they represent.

The disconnect comes when an elected official infuses their rigid personal beliefs into the decision making process that could be detrimental to the community as a whole.

I pledge to have an open mind when discussing issues impacting the residents of the Town of Bethel.

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

Finding the balance between affordability, growth and community investment is a tall task. I hope to be a part of discussions where responsible spending and strategic investments are top of mind.

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

In my 25 years with Dunkin' Donuts, I have earned numerous internal awards from the franchise owners that I have worked for. My territories were consistently top in the company in quarterly and annual results.

As a result of the consistent performance of my locations, I had considerable input in creating annual budgets of up to $20 million dollars.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Sometimes the easiest solution is not always the best solution.