Cheshire Election 2021: Jim Jinks Running For Town Council

CHESHIRE, CT — The 2021 municipal election is heating up in Cheshire with plenty of races on the ballot.

Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 2 and cast their ballots for seats on the Town Council, Board of Education, Planning and Zoning Commission and more.

Cheshire Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Democrat Jim Jinks, 50, is running for re-election to the Cheshire Town Council in the 2nd District.

Occupation: Management And Marketing. Vice President, Mediabids.com

Family: I've been married for 22 years to Marie Shannon Jinks. We have four children - Grace, Maggie, Ellie and Henry - and proudly live in Cheshire's 2nd District.

Experience: I've been the Town Councilor for Cheshire's 2nd District since 2019. I previously served on the Cheshire Youth Services Commission from 2017-2019 and I served on the Planning & Zoning Commission from 2015-2017.

Family in government: No.

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

The most important issue facing our town is school modernization. The average age of our schools is 78 years old, we're spending millions on maintenance and updates and we're beginning to experience several years of significant growth in our elementary school population. Nearly everyone agrees we can't keep kicking this can down the road. Due to the projected increase in our K-6 population it's important that we get started on modernization sooner rather than later. What have I done about it? For the past year, as a member of the School Modernization Committee (SMC) and Town Council, I've worked with my SMC colleagues to deliver two, bipartisan, multi-phase proposals for modernizing all our schools over the next two decades. Ideally we'll have a successful referendum, following more feedback and engagement with the public, and in the next year, finally begin to modernize our school facilities.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

My record of service to the community over the past six plus years (as a town councilor, member of the Youth Services Commission and the Planning & Zoning Commission) makes me uniquely suited to continue to be a highly effective town councilor for the 2nd District. Over the past two years I’ve worked hard to learn all the facets of the town councilor job and gained important experience on several committees – including School Modernization, Budget, Planning, Solid Waste and Sustainability. I’m also committed to continue to listen to and serve all the voters of the 2nd District (and Cheshire) to the best of my ability, transparently and proactively. The town councilor role is no place for ideologues and partisans. Like most of us, I’m for good schools, safe streets and neighborhoods, a nice place to raise our kids and a thriving community. I humbly ask for your support on November 2nd.

Accomplishments:

As a member of the budget committee, I worked hard with my fellow town councilors to protect Cheshire taxpayers while maintaining essential services and making strategic long-term investments.

As a member of the School Modernization Committee, I worked hard to deliver two bipartisan and long-term proposals for improving our school facilities; easily the biggest concern facing our community for years to come.

As a member of the Sustainability Team, I worked with my fellow team members to earn Cheshire ‘bronze-level’ certification from Sustainable CT. A significant recognition of Cheshire’s collective efforts to make our town a better place to live now and into the future.

As a member of the Solid Waste Committee, I worked with my fellow committee members to deliver bulky waste pickup this year.

As the Council liaison to the Public Safety Commission and to the Beautification Committee, I’ve worked hard to be an active participant in the committees, rather than simply their ‘liaison.’

As your 2nd District Town Councilor, I’ve worked hard to be and will continue to be responsive to my constituents, to be transparent, and to communicate and inform as much as possible.

Other issues:

Supporting efforts to recruit and fully staff our police and fire department.

Protecting taxpayers while continuing to make key, strategic investments in our long-term success.

Safer streets and neighborhoods.

Being even more proactive in terms of transparency and communication.

Supporting commercial and community development in the West Main Street special district.

Continuing efforts of our new Sustainability Team to find ways to make Cheshire a more sustainable community today and for future generations.

Continuing efforts to fully staff our appointed, and volunteer boards and commissions. These groups can provide a valuable public service if provided some direction and their collective energy is supported and volunteers feel enabled to get things done for our community.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

Serving as the 2nd District Town Councilor over the past two years has been a privilege and honor. It’s also a responsibility I take very seriously and will never take for granted. I’ve worked hard to learn the job and deliver for the people of Cheshire.

Over the past two years, I’m proud of how in Cheshire we’ve taken the pandemic seriously. We’ve come together and done our part to help keep each other safe, keep our kids in school and get through this awful time as best as possible.

But we have an election coming up, and our recent success and ‘status quo’ is hardly assured. I’m for good schools, a well-run town, a nice place to raise our kids, safe neighborhoods and streets and a thriving community. I’m also for a healthy democratic process, and this means doing everything I can to hear from residents and be responsive. I solemnly swear to continue to be a voice of reason and a champion for Cheshire voters. The democratic process and the liberty we all enjoy as Americans is on the ballot every election. Please vote Nov 2nd and let’s all do our part to keep our democracy alive and well.

Are you running for office in Cheshire? Email vincent.salzo@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile on Cheshire Patch.