Darien Election 2021: Michael Burke For Board Of Selectmen

DARIEN, CT — Election Day is approaching fast, and a number of key positions in town will be on the ballot.

To help readers make an informed decision on Nov. 2, Patch has reached out to local candidates to share their views on a few topics.

Democrat Michael J. Burke Esq., 59, is running for the Board of Selectmen in Darien.

Occupation: Attorney

Family: Kathleen (Wife); Matthew (18), attending Providence College; Nolan (18), attending Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University

Experience: RTM and Darien Board of Education

Family in government: No.

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

Flood mitigation and other infrastructure matters. When I was on the RTM, we approved two flood mitigation studies and each time the administration failed to aggressively pursue a solution to the continuous flooding. I would update those studies and act on the recommendations instead of putting them in a drawer.

At the same time, and we have to be fierce and persistent in perusing state and federal funding to pay for the plans chosen. The current Republican team seems to complain a lot about state and federal government but they never talk about how aggressively they seek funds from them.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

For our board to be high functioning, it must be populated by critical thinkers who are informed, unafraid to be accountable, and communicative and motivated to get things done. I have an actual record of service in Darien espousing those qualities.

Accomplishments:

As a member of the RTM and Board of Education, I examined, vetted and passed town and school budgets.

As a member of the BOE, I negotiated teacher contracts, chaired our policy committee and worked collaboratively with other stakeholders, and safely navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and became one of the first districts in the country to fully reopen.

I also helped lead the effort to get important capital projects completed including the long-stalled lights installation at the high school.

Other issues:

In addition to flood mitigation, attention is also long overdue concerning our public lands use, we need to construct additional sidewalks/cross-walks. Further, we need to vastly improve community engagement.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

The Republicans have been trying to scare voters into thinking Democrats are not for local control. They actually send out letters claiming we will be "beholden" to Hartford. The accusation that I am beholden to anyone other than my fellow citizens and motivated by anything other than my own independent informed judgment is offensive and patently false.

I have a ten year record of public service in Darien. I dare anyone, Republican or otherwise, to find a statement or vote that evidences anything other than independent, thoughtful judgment.

Elect me to this board and I will do what I have done since my first day of service in Darien, and that is use every skill I possess and work with everyone in sight to do the very best for this place, and we call home.