Ellington Candidate Profile: Michael Madru, Board Of Selectmen

ELLINGTON, CT — The 2023 municipal election season is heating up in Ellington, and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Ellington-Somers Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Name: Michael Madru

How old will you be as of Election Day? 38

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

https://www.facebook.com/Mikef...

What city or town do you live in? Ellington

What office are you seeking? Board of Selectmen

Party affiliation: Democrat

Education: Bachelors in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance - 2003 - Western New England College

What is your occupation? Operations Senior Manager

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

My wife, Allison, a 5th grade teacher at Center School in Ellington and I live here with our two boys, Max, 6, and Finn, 3.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

In politics or government yes, not locally, and not in Connecticut

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

Yes. I am currently on the Board of Selectmen filling out a term for Charlotte Ward, who was elected in 2021.

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 have gained a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge over the past 16 months on the Board of Selectmen. I look forward to using that experience and knowledge to continue to work to keep Ellington safe and affordable for all residents, and a place people a proud to call home.

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

Transparency in government. Ellington residents deserve to know that elected officials are acting openly, honestly, and with their best interests in mind. I will continue to work to ensure that residents are informed, aware, and provided with all information possible related to town business.

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

I am relatively new to local politics, however I believe I bring a passion and drive that may not exist in some other candidates.

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

Transparency in local government is of the utmost importance. I do not believe our residents should be handcuffed in their ability to speak about important town matters, nor be provided with partial or inaccurate information as it relates to town policies, votes, or budgets.

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

I believe public safety is of concern in Ellington. I want residents to feel safe in their homes and know that their belongings they have spent their hard earned money on are also safe. I would like to see nightly police patrol EVERY night of the week to better help protect our town and our residents.

We also need to find more ways to keep Ellington affordable. I intend to push all of our town officials, elected or not, to explore any and all options for funding and budgeting that will help alleviate high taxes on our residents.

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

I ran for First Selectman in 2021, and with only a 6 and a half week campaign got the highest number of votes by a Democratic First Selectman candidate in Ellington history. My message and my beliefs were clear and concise, and I firmly believe resonated with residents. I have worked over the last 16 months on the Board of Selectmen to always act with the best interests of the town and our residents in mind.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Don’t be afraid to show your true self and always be the hardest worker in the room. While not everyone may like you, appreciate you, or agree with you, you can hold your head high and go to bed at the end of the day knowing you’ve given it your all.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

If elected, I promise to always work for you and for the betterment of Ellington. My door is always open and I will always make myself available to listen, to learn, and to hear from the residents of Ellington.