Patch Profile: Sarah Hague, Canton Board of Selectmen

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

Sarah Hague is running for Canton Board of Selectmen as a Democrat.

The following is Hague's questionnaire sent to Patch:

Name

Sarah Hague

How old will you be as of Election Day?

31

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 Selectmen

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democrat

Education

Master of Social Work from Columbia University; Bachelor of Social Work, Sociology, and Peace and Conflict Studies from Gordon College

What is your occupation?

Political-social worker, 10 years, including most recently as congressional chief of staff and chief program officer for a national nonprofit organization.

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

I have a beloved dog, Ruth Barker Ginsburg

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

N/A

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

N/A

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 love our town, and want to bring my experience working in government to the Canton Board of Selectmen. I know how imperative it is to engage the community in the decision-making process, and to translate our work to constituents. Quality of life issues like traffic and speeding, affordable housing, small business support, and environmental conservation affect Canton families' everyday lives. As selectwoman (by the way - can we make that a thing?!), my priority will be advocating for Canton's families on these important topics and advancing creative, sustainable solutions informed by the community’s goals and priorities.

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

Our budget.

We must approach change intentionally and seek a balance between sustaining the striking beauty of our town while supporting small businesses that generate tax revenues to relieve the burden on residents.

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

I’ve dedicated my career to expanding civic engagement and advocating for policies that help everyday people. Through my social work training, I know how to evaluate policies from multiple perspectives and how to build consensus, mediate disagreements and seek common ground. I believe we all have much more in common than what sets us apart, and my goal is to make Canton the best it can be, for everyone!

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

It’s time for change and new energy on the Canton Board of Selectmen. As a young woman running for what is currently an all-male board, I would bring a fresh perspective and a commitment to inclusion, specifically to ensuring that everyone in our community feels heard on the problems Canton faces and to take sustainable action towards sustainable solutions.

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

Sustainable budget, speeding and traffic, responsible development, including ensuring affordable housing for new developments.

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

I got my start in politics at the ripe age of 15! I served on Congressman Larson's Congressional Youth Cabinet where I advised on issues facing young people in Connecticut and learned from leaders across the state about how to engage my community in civic leadership. I have since helped over 1,000 high school students engage in civic self-empowerment through Congressional Youth Cabinets across the country. I proudly served as district Chief of Staff for a US Representative and Oversight Committee Chair. I can evaluate policy, a budget and prioritize community input in any decision-making process. I was one of the youngest Chiefs of Staff at the time of my service. I'm now Chief Program Officer at Vote Mama, leading our electoral, advocacy, research and membership programs. I’ve supported over 500 mamas running from school board to US Senate across the country, conducted research on the political participation of moms and the barriers that keep them from running for and serving in office, and advocated for policy change, including overcoming one of those barriers by allowing state and local candidates to use campaign funds on childcare (we're at 29 states now, Connecticut included).

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”-Maya Angelou