Danbury Candidate Profile: Carolyn Thibodeau For City Council

DANBURY, CT — The 2019 municipal election is heating up in Danbury and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

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

Carolyn Thibodeau is running for City Council Ward 3 as a Democrat. She is a retired teacher and is currently a substitute teacher. She has experience on the Danbury Zoning Commission.

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

Neglected roads that need repaving. I'd support road bonding to restore our roads, make travel easier, and increase property values.

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

Overcrowded schools. Initiate a commission of teachers, parents, administrators to study the feasibility of school additions or building new schools.

I'd also solicit State aide to help increase our per pupil expenditure. Right now, Danbury is last in Ct in what we spend per pupil. Our children deserve a quality education in acceptable sized classes.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder
failed the community (or district or constituency)?

Gridlock traffic. A traffic study hasn't been done in years. One must be initiated to find ways to alleviate gridlock traffic conditions on city roads.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

Seniors: many Danbury seniors are living on insufficient monthly incomes.
We need to do more to help them.

Future Development/Growth: we cannot continue with the unbridled growth policies of the present administration! Developers must agree to give back to the city, in relation to upgrading city services that are negatively affected. No thought or planning was given to the tremendous number of new condo construction. Our public services have been burdened to the point of ineffectiveness.

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

I believe my experience living and working in Danbury most of my life qualify me as being more than able to handle this position. I have been a Danbury resident since birth, with the exception of living in New Milford for 5 years. I've lived at my current address for 31 years. I know the main
issues that need our attention: I live through them every day. I'm a seniorwho struggles with senior dilemmas, fights gridlock traffic and lives on a city road that is literally crumbling. . I have 27 years experience as a public school teacher....I am very much in tune with educational concerns.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

My Dad advocated for community involvement and encouraged our whole family
to stand up, get involved, give back to our city so that your children will be proud to say they live here.