Danbury Election: Andrea Gartner For Town Clerk, City Of Danbury

DANBURY, CT — The state Municipal Election is Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Patch contacted candidates to answer questions about their campaigns.

Democrat Andrea Gartner, 56, is running for Town Clerk, City of Danbury in Danbury.

Occupation: Economic Development Consultant

Family: Proud mom to George, a Mechanical and Computer Science Engineer

Experience: Current Danbury Democrat Party Chairman; former Zoning Commissioner and City of Danbury

Family in government: No

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

The dire state of our public schools. Danbury ranks 169/169 in the whole State of CT in lowest per pupil expenditures. A growing city with a population as diverse and vibrant as Danbury should not be last in anything. In 2001, the education budget comprised 58% of the overall budget. Presently in 2021, it is 51%. For too many years running under Republican leadership, and we have been first place for being the worst in supporting our schoolchildren. I support restoring our education budget as a percentage of the overall budget to previous levels. Quality education is paramount. It's time to get back to investing now for our future.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

The state of our schools, the ongoing deterioration of the downtown corridor, and failing infrastructure is a result of 20 years of an administration that has put politics over people. My opponent is allied with decision makers who have shortchanged our students and are now looking to corporatize education by bringing a charter school to Danbury.

Accomplishments:

As a former Executive Director of CityCenter Danbury, I am proud of my accomplishments working with business leaders and cultural organizations that brought new development and a wide range of activities to downtown. I was an active partner in creating the Downtown Revitalization Zone; lobbying for the NVCC Danbury Campus and the Hackerspace; and keeping Off Track Betting away. I am pleased to have contributed to these ongoing projects: Museum in the Street; Danbury Farmers' Market Community Collaborative; and Danbury Hatter's Memorial Statue. I look forward to implementing community initiatives that expand civic engagement, and especially among younger generations.

Other issues:

It's important to have a variety of voices around the table when facing difficult problems and working to find the best solutions. For too long, Danbury decisionmakers have gathered with like minds, thinking the same old same approach will work. This does not lead to creative and innovation solutions. The opposite has happened with many missed opportunities. Danbury has changed and is changing. Now more than ever, with the ongoing problems we all face due to the impacts of our public health crisis, and we need that variety of voices around the table.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I believe that people and groups working together can accomplish more and broad-based civic engagement makes for a healthier community. Fresh minds bring fresh thinking. As development encroaches, Danbury's population grows, educational needs increase, and our infrastructure wears, we need a local government that inspires discussion and innovatively solves existing, emerging, and evolving problems. I would be honored to serve and help move Danbury in a proactive and forward direction.