Craig Curley Running For Fairfield Board Of Finance

FAIRFIELD, CT — It's election season in Fairfield, and Patch is here to help you get to know the candidates running for local office in 2021 before voters head to the polls Nov. 2.

Questionnaire responses appear as submitted by candidates.

Democrat Craig Curley, 54, is running for Board of Finance in Fairfield.

Occupation: Managing Director; Bank Of America Renewable Energy Finance

Family: Cathy (53), Clay (23), Connor (21)

Experience: Chairman, Fairfield Golf Commission (2009 – 2014) Chairman, and H. Smith Richardson Building Committee (2018 – 2021)

Family in government: Cathy (spouse) is the Vice Chair of the Fairfield Democratic Town Committee

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

Accountability and transparency. With this past year’s budget, the administration submitted a budget that cut roughly $2MM from the education budget and increased the town budget by almost 6%. That’s backwards to me. Further, all six Republicans on the BOF voted to approve the cuts to education budget and the large increase to the town budget. When the Democrats on the BOF asked tough questions, the administration labeled that as obstruction. I don’t view that as obstruction. I view that as doing their due diligence and doing their job. If elected, and I’ll bring that same level of oversight to ensure accountability and deliver the best value for the Fairfield taxpayer – because every tax dollar is precious.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I believe that it is the job of the BOF to scrutinize town budgets with a critical eye, challenge assumptions, and ask good questions. I have a proven track-record of doing just that. If elected, I will make independent, non-partisan, and data-driven decisions regardless of the political affiliation of the administration in power.

Accomplishments:

As Chairman of the H. Smith Richardson Building Committee, I led the successful $7MM clubhouse and restaurant facility design and rebuilding effort, and completed the project during COVID roughly $150K under budget. As Chairman of the Fairfield Golf Commission, I developed and implemented the 10-year master improvement plan, which became the template/model for other Fairfield commissions. In my professional life (30+years of financial services experience), I work with multi-billion dollar budgets every day, and so I know how to analyze detailed budgets and ask the right questions.

Other issues:

My wife Cathy and I moved to Fairfield 25 years ago, largely due to the quality public education system. Our two boys are successful graduates of Jennings, Woods, and Warde. Our education system is arguably Fairfield’s greatest asset, and it needs to be funded for the benefit of our children and to protect our property values. I also believe that our amenities (parks, beaches, marina, and golf courses) need the proper investment for the same reasons.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I’ve been volunteering in our Fairfield community for almost two decades. Both in business and in service to my community, I have a long track record of bi-partisan collaboration and working to build consensus. I’m committed to respectful debate, thoughtful consideration of all views, and and creative problem solving to achieve desired outcomes.