Darien Election 2021: Monica McNally For First Selectman

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.

Republican Monica McNally, 60, is running for First Selectman in Darien.

Occupation:

• Husband- Mark Filanowski
• Children: Helen Filanowski, Steven Filanowski

Experience: Darien Board of Selectmen

Family in government: No

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

Flooding is the most pressing issue at this time. The two floods were recent, and close together. I viewed the worst of the flooding from Ida that night, and I helped residents and businesses clean up afterwards. Their suffering, and the anger and frustration following it, still stick to me.

Victims ask, “What is the town going to do?” I wish I had a simple answer. It’s easy to say we will ask the State for a grant, or increase the capacity of one culvert, but if that causes flooding somewhere else downstream, what have we accomplished? We need professional help for this complicated process and the Board of Selectmen is currently looking at that, and we need a governmental body that is more permanent than one that is event driven.

The board is considering the best way to do that. There is no doubt that mitigating flooding in an era of increasing rate and intensity of storms will take the cooperation of many stakeholders, including the town, and the state and land owners.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I believe the depth and breath of my experience on both the RTM and the Board of Selectman makes me a highly qualified candidate and and separates me from my opponent. The relationships I have developed with other boards and commissions and town employees over the last eight years will be instrumental in enabling me to lead from day one.

My nine years as a financial consultant will continue to provide benefits as the town continues to focus on financial stability through through future budget cycles. Of course the big differentiator is how we see the role of Hartford in Darien's destiny.

Accomplishments:

I am already a sitting member of the Board of Selectmen, so I know what the job entails. I was vice moderator of the 100 member Representative Town Meeting. I can handle complex issues, competing goals, big budgets, and multifaceted solutions. Building strong, respectful relationships, town-wide and state-wide, is an important part of the foundation for success as Darien’s first selectman. These relationships develop when people are truly heard and their concerns and considerations are included in the decision making process.

While Chair of Public Works, our committee, along with two others, worked on an ordinance to ban the use of single use plastic bags. Members of the committees were diametrically opposed to the idea, as were many residents and businesses. Working with the passionate BYO environmental group, local businesses, other RTM committees, and holding a series of public hearings for residents to be heard, we were able to successfully create an ordinance that passed the RTM almost unanimously. That required listening, and and then getting the job done.

Other issues:

Protecting the town from a potential state-mandated and State-designed makeover comes next because it impacts the future of Darien and it is an extremely important differentiator between the candidates for First Selectman. My Democratic opponent’s local party, and her state and national endorsers, effusively support the cookie cutter and “as of right” building codes proposed by progressives in the state legislature, defeated last term but sure to be renewed and reinvigorated this term. They would ultimately re-make Darien into a place that is unrecognizable to today’s residents, who moved here for the very reason they love this town the way it is.

Change is unstoppable, but it should be change that residents can have input on, not legislated by rubber stamp bureaucrats from Hartford. They should not tell us what can be built next door to our homes without our comments. Instead of working with Progressives to try to convince them to take it easy on Darien, I will work with towns like Darien that want to retain their autonomy, and their destiny, to defeat these failed policies. At the same time, I will make everyone who will listen aware of what a great track record Darien has on building affordable housing without state interference.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

Love this town! I feel so fortunate to live in this vibrant community and surrounded by caring residents who give their time and effort so generously. My singular goal is to help keep Darien the town we all love.