Brookfield Candidate Profile: Gaspare J. Marturano, Zoning

BROOKFIELD, CT — The 2019 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.

Gaspare J. Marturano, 47, is running for a seat on the Zoning Commission as a Republican. He is the director of marketing and IT for Ventura Law, as well as a digital marketing and social media industry speaker, and the author of "SocializeWith.Me or Someone Else Will" and "World Coast Guards: Global Sea Guardians."

The single most pressing issue facing our town/district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue for the town's zoning is over development. I intend to help find the balance between growth and keeping our small town feel.

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

The zoning board needs to do a better job managing growth. I understand the need for a community to grow, but growth should not affect residents in our beautiful community in negative ways. Steps should be taken to manage the growth, so it benefits the population and not businesses. Applications by landowners to permit buildings or land uses in Brookfield need to not only look at the use but the effects on area traffic. New buildings and/or land uses can have negative impacts on people's lives due to traffic congestion.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

1. Work to protect and maintain Brookfield's charm
2. Encourage public input. Listen and consider different viewpoints and alternative solutions.
3. Make thoughtful reasoned decisions that are best for Brookfield.

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

I am currently an alternate on the Zoning Commission. I have been able to work with everyone on the commission and voice the opinions of those in the community in constructive ways.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a member of the Republican party, but I find in local politics that party affiliation in many cases get blurred. At the end of the day, we can't make everyone happy with the decisions we make. All we can do is follow the law, and do our best to what we think is fair. We all want what is best for our town, even though we have different paths to get to that goal. Marco Rubio said it best, "despite our differences, I know that both Republicans and Democrats love America." I feel the same for Brookfield.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

"It is easy to blame your lot in life on some outside force, to stop trying because you believe fate is against you. It is easy to think that where you were raised, how your parents treated you, or what school you went to is all that determines your future. Nothing could be further from the truth. The common people and the great men and women are all defined by how they deal with life’s unfairness: Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, Stephen Hawking, Malala Yousafzai, and—Moki Martin. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, no matter how good you are, you still end up as a sugar cookie. Don’t complain. Don’t blame it on your misfortune. Stand tall, look to the future, and drive on!" ― William H. McRaven