Branford Election 2021: Kevin Coughlin For RTM District 1

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

Patch contacted candidates to answer questions about their campaigns.

Democrat Kevin Coughlin, 34, is running for RTM District 1 in Branford.

Occupation: Communications Director At Connecticut State Senate Democrats

Family: I live in Branford with my wife Heather Gold and our one-year-old daughter Eleanor.

Family in government: No one in my family works in politics or government. However, I work for the State Senate Democrats in Hartford as Communications Director.

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

The single most pressing issue facing our town is the finances of the town. Under the current Republican leadership, town taxes are up 12%, town budget is up 18%, and the town debt is up 28%. At the same time, and our grand list is only up 4.5%. The only way to stop these increases is to be proactive on economic development. Plots of land that were empty 8 years ago still sit dormant. Branford has no full-time Economic Development Director while neighboring East Haven and Guilford do. I intend to make economic development the focus of my time on the RTM and getting our town the professionals we need to get businesses and jobs to Branford.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I will bring a unique perspective to the RTM. I am a former 7th grade U.S. History teacher who understands the education system and what our teachers and kids need. I work as a Communications Director for elected State Senators here in Connecticut and believe that it is not enough for the town to do something but it must also effectively communicate with residents what it is doing. People in Branford are in the dark on so many things around town and I have the skill set to change that. Furthermore and I work closely with State Senators and State Representatives in Hartford at the State Capitol. I know how to successfully pass a law and why bills fail to ever become laws. On the RTM I will be one of many, and I see every day how a legislative body like the RTM can best work to accomplish positive change for Branford residents.

Accomplishments:

From my years of working for state government and in local politics, I have an intimate knowledge of how government works and does not work. I have seen up close why good ideas fail to become effective policy and how bad ideas grab hold and become detrimental policy. The RTM's role is to legislate for the town and I work every day at the state's legislature. In my day job I have to work to balance the different priorities of Bridgeport, Haddam, and Cheshire. I am well-prepared to balance the needs of Pine Orchard, Stony Creek, and Short Beach.

Other issues:

Another major concern for me which inspired me to run for this office is the utter lack of communication coming from Town Hall. It is 2021 and I can't get a text message telling me when there is an impending hurricane, an active shooter down the street or even if trash pick-up has been delayed. I am a communications professional that works closely with the media in Connecticut, oversees numerous social media accounts, and help elected officials communicate with hundreds of thousands of Connecticut residents on a daily basis. Communications is what I do for a living and the current leadership in town has no clue how to do it right.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I come from a divided, opinionated family. Yankees vs Red Sox. Giants vs Patriots. Republican vs Democrat. I'm used to arguing my side but know that you have to hear the other side to get to the best possible answer. I want to hear your opinions and ideas to make Branford better. And while you might not agree with everything I say, know that you're getting my honest opinion, and no BS.