Cheshire Election 2023: A. Fiona Pearson Running For Town Council

CHESHIRE, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Cheshire with plenty of races on the ballot.

Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 7 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.

A. Fiona Pearson, 57, is running for re-election to the Cheshire Town Council as a Democrat.

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

https://www.cheshiredem.org/

What office are you seeking?

Town Council At-large

Education.

Ph.D. Georgia State University, M.A. Radford University, B.A. San Diego State University

What is your occupation?

Professor - Sociology - Central Connecticut State University (17 years)

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

Spouse - Scott Ellis
Child - Seneca Ellis
Child - Danielle Ellis

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

Commissioner - Cheshire Parks and Recreation Commission (4 years)
Chair - Cheshire Sustainability Team (3 years)

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 am running for Town Council because we have some important work ahead of us. We are only now beginning to address our schooling infrastructure issues that have been neglected for far too many decades under previous leadership—I am the kind of leader who welcomes that challenge. Additionally, we have beautiful parks and open spaces that possess incredible potential. As a part of the Parks and Recreation Commission, I have appreciated my time being a part of team that has overseen the Bartlem Park renovation and am excited about plans to improve resources and maintenance at Mixville Park. We have made great strides in recent years addressing needs in our recreational parks, but we also need a comprehensive plan to oversee and manage our open spaces. Additionally, we need to reimagine our town’s future infrastructure—we want to preserve Cheshire’s unique history, while also ensuring that our municipal buildings and energy resources are sustainable. I truly believe that a sustainable future that preserves the beauty of our town is possible when grounded in creativity and collaboration.

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

"ensuring sustainability" The non-profit Coalition for Sustainable Cheshire and our town's Sustainability Team has already been working actively with members of the Town Council's Solid Waste Subcommittee and school leaders to implement a pilot program for addressing food waste in our public schools. If we can divert food waste from our waste stream, we can cut costs all while reducing the need to transport waste outside our town and state, which is inherently unethical. I will work to expand these food waste diversion programs. Additionally, we need to support projects like Ball & Socket Arts, which not only engage in important brownfield site remediation but also preserve our history, while positively contributing to our town's economy and culture. Finally, as we construct and renovate our schooling infrastructure, we need to ensure they are energy efficient, cost-effective, and address our students' learning needs. At the same time, we need to ensure that our most vulnerable residents are not financially burdened because past leaders failed to invest in our schools over the past three decades. In sum, we need forward thinking and sustainable solutions.

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

For the last three decades, Republican leadership has put off making key decisions, such as addressing our failing schooling infrastructure, mitigating our waste crisis, and ensuring multi-family housing is available in our community so all who work in Cheshire can afford to live in Cheshire. With the need to renovate or replace all of our schools at once, we will soon be paying the price for Republicans' inaction, and so new leadership is necessary to ensure that the most vulnerable in our community are protected.

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

(see my prior answer)

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

Recently many residents have expressed concern about the current Town Council's newly implemented flag ordinance. We can and need to revisit that ordinance, which resulted in disallowing flags that the general community previously supported being flown across town. We also need to revisit and carefully vet the Town Council's proposal to leave Chesprocott, which provides important licensing and health services, including vaccination clinics. As was made clear during a recent Town Council public forum, this decision to leave Chesprocott was hasty and requires further review.

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

I am serving my second term as an elected faculty representative on CCSU's University Planning and Budget Committee, which oversees a budget that is twice the size of Cheshire's budget. Additionally, my work with Cheshire's Parks and Recreation Commission, Cheshire's Sustainability Team, and as Executive Director of Coalition for a Sustainable Cheshire have provided me with key insight regarding municipal operations and management. Finally, my experience as an educator provides me with a deep understanding of the needs of our single biggest line item in our town budget, our schools.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Leaders come and go, so just keep your focus on what you know is the right thing to do for the betterment of all.

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.