Patch Candidate Profile: Brenda Kupchick, First Selectwoman

FAIRFIELD, CT — Election Day is approaching fast, and a number of key positions in Fairfield will be on the ballot, including Board of Selectman, Board of Education, Board of Finance, RTM and others.

To help readers make an informed decision on Nov. 7, Fairfield Patch has reached out to local candidates to share their views on various topics of importance in town.

Patch will post these candidate profiles over the next few weeks, so check back often to see the latest.

Name

Brenda Kupchick

How old will you be as of Election Day?

58

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

https://www.brendaforfairfield.com/

What city or town do you live in?

Life-long Fairfield resident and fourth generation Fairfielder.

What office are you seeking?

First Selectwoman

Please give us your party affiliation.

Republican

Education.

I attended Fairfield Public Schools, Norwalk Community College, and Fairfield University.

What is your occupation?
First Selectwoman, Town of Fairfield

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

My husband Peter also grew up in Fairfield. We have been married for 38 years. Peter and I started a Heating and Cooling Company in Fairfield 35 years ago that successfully serves residents in Fairfield and Fairfield County. We have one adult son, Peter, who works as a software engineer for a financial services company. My mother lived with us for nearly 20 years until she passed away two years ago. My Dad is 87 and still lives in Fairfield.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

RTM 1999-2003
BOE 2003-2009
State Representative 132nd District 2010-2019
First Selectwoman 2019-present

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 am a proud fourth-generation Fairfield resident deeply dedicated to my hometown. Each time I've pursued public office, it has been a heartfelt commitment to serving our community. Ensuring the well-being of our residents and small businesses and preserving Fairfield as a place where people can live, work, raise families, and retire remains of utmost importance to me.

I take great pride in the ongoing efforts of my administration to rectify two decades of mismanagement, public corruption, and neglect. We have faced significant challenges, including a global pandemic, indictments of previous department heads, and the disposal of contaminated soil within our town. In response, we've undertaken the substantial task of rebuilding our town government with a focus on transparency and accountability.

My team has enlisted experts to conduct impartial assessments of our town's assets, encompassing roads, sidewalks, tide gates, buildings, and recreational facilities. These evaluations have been instrumental in crafting comprehensive planning documents that guide our budgeting for the future. Additionally, I established a new bipartisan capital planning group operating within a prudent bonding cap to prioritize vital projects without overextending the town's finances.

Fairfield stands at a crucial juncture in its history. Our community has weathered numerous challenges, and I am eager for the opportunity to build upon the foundation laid during the past four years. There is much more work ahead of us, and I am committed to seeing it through.

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

Four years ago, when I was asked about the most critical issue facing Fairfield, I emphasized the importance of leadership and accountability. Little did I know then just how deep the problems ran within our town government. Today, I am more convinced than ever that strong leadership and accountability remain of the greatest importance for our community.

Fairfield, with its population of 62,000, has a multitude of pressing issues affecting our residents and businesses. These include challenges such as school redistricting, a concerning UI transmission line proposal that threatens our residents and businesses, overdevelopment driven by predatory development under the 8-30g State Statute, as well as issues related to traffic and pedestrian safety, crime, flood control, and rising living costs that strain families.
Every one of these issues demands the guidance of a responsible leader who can
ensure a thoughtful and strategic approach to address the diversity of challenges
impacting our community.

Here's what I plan to do about it:

I am committed to building upon the positive progress my administration has achieved over the past four years. Alongside Brian Farnen, we bring a strong work ethic, decades of experience, and an unwavering dedication to our community. Together, we will steer our town forward in a positive direction.

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

When considering the differences between myself and the other candidate vying for this position, several key distinctions emerge. I have a track record of successful collaboration with my husband in establishing and running a thriving small business for over 35 years. My experience serving on the RTM, Board of Education, and as a State Representative has equipped me with the knowledge
and expertise necessary to lead our community and town government effectively. Most significantly, I navigated our town through the challenges posed by a global pandemic, passed four budgets with less than 1% tax increases during a period of record-high inflation, and always prioritized decisions using sound policy rather than political considerations. My driving motivation lies in the success and well-being of our community.

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

My job as First Selectwoman comes first, campaigning second. Throughout my campaign and moving forward, my central focus remains on highlighting the significant achievements my administration made in a compressed time frame. My four-year term was cut in half due to a global pandemic, which coincided with our efforts to address the most substantial instances of corruption and environmental devastation in our town's history.

Four years ago, our town was on a troubling trajectory, but we have successfully reversed course through hard work and determination. Our dedicated efforts have steered our town government back onto the path of integrity. However, there is still much work ahead.

My goal is to continue fostering intelligent economic growth, making strategic investments in our infrastructure, and ensuring our neighborhood schools are a top priority. I am also committed to maintaining low and stable taxes and ensuring that our town government operates transparently and with integrity.

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

Over the past four years of my tenure as First Selectwoman, I have documented my administration's actions and progress through the distribution of more than 200 bi-weekly newsletters to our town residents. This ongoing effort has been aimed at fostering transparency and approachability within our town government. These newsletters have served as a vital means of communication, covering a wide range of topics, including our response to the challenges posed by COVID-19, our resilience during major storms and subsequent power outages, the remediation of a multitude of contaminated areas, and the implementation of modernization initiatives and reorganization efforts within town government, all geared towards providing enhanced services for our residents and businesses.

Under my leadership, my administration has achieved a series of significant milestones and accomplishments, including:

1. Spearheading historic growth in our town's grand list, bolstering our economic prosperity that helps lower the tax burden on homeowners.
2. Securing the acquisition of the Giant Steps property, which will serve as a permanent home for our town's alternative High School.
3. Breathing new life into the long-stalled Metro Center development, stimulating economic revitalization.
4. Effectively putting an end to the incessant cycle of tax increases, maintaining tax rates at less than 1% annually, well below the rate of inflation.
5. Resolving contamination issues at 37 sites linked to the fill pile scandal and ensuring compliance with consent orders for the cleanup of contaminated fill beneath Penfield
Pavilion, while also adhering to FEMA regulations for the Pavilion.
6. Overseeing the long overdue reconstruction of the Duck Farm Bridge.
7. Enhancing and expanding our recreational facilities to better serve our community.
8. Allocating resources and initiating flood prevention measures for the Rooster River area, a project that had previously remained stagnant for over two decades.
9. Utilizing best practices for road repair and sidewalk improvements by instituting a new Road Management and Sidewalk System based on scientific analysis to formulate a five-year prioritization plan to bring roads and sidewalks into good condition.
10. Worked with law enforcement and engineering to improve the traffic safety complaint process, while also enhancing pedestrian and vehicular safety in areas of concern throughout Town.

These accomplishments underscore my commitment to our community and my
dedication to the prosperity and well-being of our town.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

I don’t know if it was advice per se, but I learned valuable lessons about effective leadership during my tenure working for Congressman Christopher Shays, who served as both a mentor and a friend. A member of Congress for 21 years, Chris exemplified principled leadership. He consistently cast votes guided by his conscience, communicated candidly, and maintained a commitment to avoiding negative campaigning against his challengers. His willingness to speak out regardless of party politics and his high expectations for the diverse team he assembled around him served as a blueprint for leading with integrity.

That experience working in Congressman Chris Shays’ congressional office, coupled with my over three decades of running a small business and my public service in various roles, that include the RTM, Board of Education, and State Representative, I believe has given me the necessary experience to effectively manage a town of 62,000 residents.

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

As Fairfield's First Selectwoman, I have appointed both Democrats and Republicans to serve in key positions of my administration and to lead departments. I firmly believe that fostering an environment where all perspectives are heard leads to the most effective outcomes in our collective pursuit of making Fairfield attractive. My primary objective has been to reestablish trust among our residents in their town government, that belongs to them, and to end the culture that once permitted corruption.

I trust that my track record stands as a testament to my commitment to our community. Throughout the past four years, my communication with residents has underscored that dedication. It is my hope that my actions and outreach have effectively conveyed my commitment to serve and strengthen our community.