Enfield Candidate Profile: Marie Pyznar, 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: Marie Pyznar

How old will you be as of Election Day? 67

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? Enfield Town Council at Large

Party affiliation: Republican

Education: Enfield High graduate 1974, hold CT state cosmetology and insurance license.

What is your occupation? Retired

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

Married 48 years to Jake Pyznar, two married daughters, four grandchildren

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

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

Served as commissioner on Enfield Inland Wetlands, Joint Facilities, and Economic Development. Currently a Town Councilor at Large, seeking re-election.

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?

As a lifelong resident of Enfield, I care about my town and direction it is going in. As a Republican I am fiscally conservative and believe in less government mandates, allowing for more personnel choice.

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

Economy and inflation. The current democrat majority on the Town Council just passed the largest mill rate increase in our town’s history while at the same time, burning through our fund balance. We need to take a look at the budget and work together to keep Enfield moving forward but still affordable to the taxpayers.

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

I believe we all want what’s best for our town, however, I don't think the current majority has listened to the residents. During the past two years, and throughout my life, I have been very active in many groups within the community. I've met and talked with residents, regardless of party affiliation - the one thing I hear over and over is they don't feel heard. I think I have been a voice for them, and will continue to ask the tough questions to advocate for every resident.

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

Budget is first and foremost, but Enfield has faced many challenges in the past few years. We need to bring new businesses into town to expand our grand list, which in turn will help relieve the tax burden for our residents. As a Thompsonville girl, I will continue to seek opportunities to improve the area. Over the past several months Enfield has received a lot of negative press about our treatment of residents, especially our farmers. While the Town Council is only a fiscal and policy board and not involved in the day-to-day operation of the town, I am keenly aware that they are also the ones who set the tone on how our residents are treated – currently dignity and respect are missing from that formula. This would be corrected if my team and I are elected to a majority.

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

My family will always be my biggest accomplishment, but for myself, I believe I’m a good listener and hard worker. As a former hairdresser, I owned my own salon for ten years. I had staff that depended on me, as well as clients, so I understand what it is to be a small business owner. Changing careers, I worked in a small insurance office in Enfield for 24 years. Every day I supported our clients in a different way. Customer service, claims, or just taking a payment, I treated each one with respect and listened to each of them.

Volunteering in the community has always been huge for me. I founded and chaired along with so many amazing people, Children Helping Children. Together we raised thousands of dollars for Enfield children diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. I've been an advocate for the elderly in our community and continue to volunteer at Mark Twain, Parkway, and American Assisted Living. For the past 13 years, working together with the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame, and Friends of Amy Romano, I've been part of a field hockey scrimmage that raises money for the Amy Romano Scholarship.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Never Give Up!

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

I have been dedicated to this community my entire life, available and willing to help anyone. Serving as a Town Councilor gives me an opportunity to continue to help residents on a broader scale. It's been a privileged to serve my town and if I have the honor of being re-elected, I will continue to work hard for everyone.