Enfield Candidate Profile: Bob Hendrickson, Town Council

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

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

Name: Bob Hendrickson

How old will you be as of Election Day? 58

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

https://enfieldrtc.org

What city or town do you live in? Enfield

What office are you seeking? Town Council

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here: District 4

Party affiliation: Republican

Education: Cathedral High School and attended Western New England College

What is your occupation? Retail Sales Operator

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

I am very blessed to have a wonderful and supportive family. My wife Kathie, my son Rob who is 35 and my stepdaughter Samantha who is 27. I also have my mother, two siblings and their families.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

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

Commissioner on Inlands Wetlands & Watercourses Agency since 2019

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?

To try and help Enfield become an affordable town again. We are a blue-collar working town not a big city. We seemed to have lost our direction.

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

Tax burden and affordability. Getting into the budget process early. Last year the council only had a few weeks to go through a $153 million budget with a $7 million increase. This needs to be a priority for all councilors.

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

I have over 30 years of managing experience and doing budgets. Making tough financial and personnel decisions is not easy, but it is something I have done for many years now. Always looking at the big picture and the betterment of the organization/town takes an understanding that your decisions will not always be liked by everyone.

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

I want to protect open space through-out town, promote the new open space ordinance for homeowners. Along with that we need to develop a master plan for town wide recreation and budget for phased implementation. This will protect all open space, especially our treasured Brainerd Park to ensure that they are there for future generations.

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

I managed a large grocery store for many years and had to work within a budget and be successful. Customer service was always a priority for me, and I really enjoyed helping people. I currently sit on the board of directors and volunteer at the Food Shelf, where I also interact with residents and volunteers.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Work hard and take care of the customers you have now because it is twice as hard to get them back.

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

I really enjoyed knocking on doors for last year’s campaign and again this year. Talking and listening to so many residents gave me a great appreciation for what a great town we have and why we need leaders to remember the reasons why they got involved. It would be an honor and privilege to serve as District 4 Town Councilor.