Patch Profile: Nicholas Ouellette, Canton Board of Assessment Appeals

CANTON, CT — Canton Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Nicholas N. Ouellette is running for Canton Board of Assessment Appeals as a Democrat.

The following is Ouellette 's questionnaire sent to Patch:

Name

Nicholas N. Ouellette

How old will you be as of Election Day?

I turned 40 this year.

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

What city or town do you live in?

Canton, CT

What office are you seeking?

Canton Board of Assessment Appeals

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democratic Party

Education

I earned a juris doctor from the University of San Diego after obtaining my Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Boston University.

What is your occupation?

I have been an attorney for 15 years, and own a law practice, Kurien Ouellette LLC, located in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

My spouse, Mary, and I have two children who are currently making their way through the Canton Public School system.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

N/A

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

Yes, I've had the pleasure of serving the town on several boards. I currently hold positions as an alternate town moderator and serve on both the Water Pollution Control Authority and on the Board of Assessment Appeals. I previously served on the Board of Ethics and was the Chair of the Charter Revision Committee.

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I was appointed to fill David Sinish’s seat on the board after his untimely passing earlier this year, and it was an honor and a privilege to serve out the rest of his term. If elected to serve, I am committing to giving each appellant a fair hearing, to listening to presentations of information with an open mind, and to weighing all of the evidence and the opinions of the other board members before making a decision with the Board.

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

Real estate values are at a historic high and cars are maintaining their values with a used car market that is also incredibly tight. Canton is currently undergoing a reassessment and the budget has been increased in prior years, so we should expect that the town will be asking taxpayers to pay more than they are used to paying for their property.

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

I've been a contributing member of the local Democratic party for 10 years, and we're energized about facing the challenges to our town, including the increased costs of services and population growth. We have a terrific slate of candidates running for office who are looking to tackle these challenges head-on instead of waiting for a crisis. Together we'll engage with the issues, and, if elected, we are committed to hearing from the public and to explaining our decisions after they are made. I am proud to be running alongside this slate.

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

The assessment appeals process allows our residents to petition their government should they feel that the tax burden imposed on them should be reevaluated. As a litigation attorney, I know how important it is that my clients receive a fair hearing of their issues before the court and that a tremendous amount of preparation and thought goes into presenting a matter to a judge or jury who is going to be making decisions in a case. If elected to serve on the Board of Assessment Appeals, I will bring my courtroom experience to bear on the process, and I am committed to ensuring a fair process and to a full hearing of all available information before making a decision on an appeal.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My grandfather, who was not particularly religious, was nevertheless a proponent of the Golden Rule, and it has served me well. When someone confronts with an idea or belief different than my own, I try to find areas of agreement so that we can reach an understanding, and even if that proves to be impossible, that we leave that interaction with mutual dignity and respect for one another.