Branford Election 2021: Adrian Bonenberger For RTM 3rd District

BRANFORD, CT — The state Municipal Election is Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Patch contacted candidates to answer questions about their campaigns.

Democrat Adrian Bonenberger, 44, is running for 3rd District RTM in Branford.

Occupation: Editor, Yale Medicine Magazine; Director, Yale School Of Medicine Social Media

Family: My wife Iryna is a journalist, and our son, Andrii or "Andy" is a senior at Branford High School.

Experience: N/A

Family in government: Nobody in my immediate family has ever worked in politics or government. My mother's father worked for the State Department for many years.

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

The towns and cities today that are investing in sustainable local infrastructure — roads, bike paths, walking routes — online infrastructure such as integrated websites that facilitate the swift and equitable distribution of town services — and business infrastructure such as tax incentives and benefits to foster innovation and reward success — will be tomorrow's destinations. In many ways, Branford feels like a town that's stuck in the 20th century; without the advantages of family, community, and mass transit that existed in the 19th century, and not making much use of the technological advances of the 21st. The town isn't doing badly, but there's a lot of room for common-sense improvement, and the clock is ticking to make necessary investments for the future.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I've had a world-class education. I served my country as an Airborne Ranger and Reconnaissance qualified infantry officer in combat, where I was decorated for bravery. I'm a published author. Perhaps most importantly, I've seen Branford twice: once as a child, growing up, and now, as an adult, having lived in other parts of the U.S., and in different countries across the world (Japan, Afghanistan, Italy, Ukraine), and visited or reported in many more. I know of few other people in the town or in the state with my scope and breadth of experiences, both as a writer and observer, and also as a leader. Finally, and I have articulable vision for Branford's future that's based on a realistic assessment of its present and past.

Accomplishments:

My record as a military leader making life and death decisions in combat as well as planning successful operations; a proven record of personal integrity; demonstrated ability to create and follow through on long-term projects.