Patch Candidate Profile: Jeffrey Kass, Brookfield Zoning Commission

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

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

Retired accountant Jeffrey Kass, 82, is running for election to the Brookfield Zoning Commission as a Democrat. He holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a master's degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. He and his wife Fran, a registered nurse, have lived in Brookfield for 49 years, and the couple has two married daughters.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

I served 10 years on the Brookfield Planning Commission; three of those years as its chairman. I served on two ad-hoc committees: one which examined what kind of tax breaks Brookfield could offer senior citizens; the other which suggested how Brookfield could spend the 5 million dollars that it received from the American Rescue Plan Act. I currently serve as treasurer of the Brookfield Library Foundation.

Why are you seeking this office?

Having recently retired, I would like to use the additional time that I have in community service. My previous terms on the Planning Commission left me with a sense of how important land use is to Brookfield.

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

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is trying to make their paycheck last throughout the month. While a Zoning Commissioner has no effect on the general cost of living, land use decisions have a significant impact on Brookfield's tax base. When making land use decisions, I will always consider the impact of those decisions on Brookfield's taxpayers.

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

I have significantly more town government experience.

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

I would make it a practice never to let personal prejudices influence my decisions. I will consider only Brookfield zoning regulations and State Statutes when making decisions. In this way, we can avoid costly lawsuits like those that previously unwise decisions have caused to transpire.

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

In all my previous positions, whether professional or volunteer, I have always demonstrated that I am someone who works hard and accepts responsibility. I will bring these traits with me to the Zoning Commission.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Don't answer questions about the best advice anyone ever gave you.