Patch Candidate Profile: Jack Shostak, RTM District 7

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

Jack Shostak

How old will you be as of Election Day?

55

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

https://www.fairfieldrtc.com/2023-rtm-candidates

What city or town do you live in?

Fairfield

What office are you seeking?

Representative Town Meeting

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here.

District 7

Please give us your party affiliation.

Republican

Education.

B.A., International Relations & Economics, Connecticut College, 1990

What is your occupation?

Owner, Shostak Construction, 30+ Years

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

My sister and I were raised here in Fairfield, by my parents Janet and Jack. Since then, my wonderful wife, Lakin, and I have proudly raised our three children Jackson, Will, and Phoebe (all of whom attended Fairfield Public Schools).

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

No

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?

Fairfield is my home town, it’s the place where I grew up, where I started my own business and where my children were raised. I’ve decided to run for Fairfield’s future. I hope that someday my kids can have the opportunity to live here with their own families while enjoying safe neighborhoods and good schools, in a town that hasn’t been over-developed, nor become congested and unaffordable.

We live in a beautiful community, and I hope we can maintain the character of the town with stable growth, low taxes, successful schools, and good governance.

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

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is maintaining constructive governance and town operations to the benefit of all Fairfielders. Under the past administration (2015-2019), the town lacked severe oversight and transparency.

The outcome of such led to two of the biggest scandals of Fairfield’s history. One, my Gould Manor and Holland Hill neighbors know too well: the Fill Pile Corruption & Contaminated Soil. This scandal resulted in soil contamination at public schools and parks around town, causing public health and safety concerns, in addition to costing the Fairfield taxpayer millions of dollars in damages. Two, the Penfield Pavilion. As a builder, I am obligated to observe and follow current building codes which are dutifully overseen by our town’s very capable building inspectors . Yet, when the pavilion was re-built, it somehow wasn’t built to FEMA’s regulation, and has cost the taxpayers millions more. This will be the third re-build.

Luckily, the current administration has been more transparent, and has directed prudent action (soil remediation at parks and schools and fixing the pavilion), for public good. Yet, no matter what the party may be in charge, it is important we ensure that all of our town operations are effectively overseen, held accountable and responsible, and are tax dollar efficient. Done right the first time just makes sense.

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

The major difference between myself and the rest of the candidates is experience and expertise. As a life-long Fairfield resident, I have come to know this awesome community really well. Participating in my kids activities, and as an active volunteer, I am engaged with other residents and am aware of what town issues are important to them, which will inevitably prove to be very valuable when representing them. In addition, I know many seniors and those in my generation who still call this town home. (Fun fact: I may be the only candidate on the ballot who can say that he represents the neighborhood he was raised in and the neighborhood that he raised his kids in).

As per professional expertise, I am the owner of a small residential construction company, which requires a lot of skill, dedication, hours of work, and patience. Not only do I have strong, effective communication skills with clients, contractors, and employees, but I’m also not afraid to roll up my sleeves and produce meaningful work. I know the importance of collaborative solution making, as well as how to run a tight budget, but most importantly: how to get the job done.

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

In my personal opinion, I believe that the current officeholders have failed us in advocacy. As our representatives, they are responsible for spreading awareness and speaking up even when no one is looking.

Although the tree cutting along I-95 is a state issue, where and when have our local neighborhood representatives spoken up, advocating that our state legislators and other leaders take action in Hartford? Where and when have our representatives spoken up regarding pollution in town parks, and along state property (i.e. Gould Manor area)?

In all fairness, I do respect the work and dedication that our current representatives have provided on behalf of the constituents in the district, but I think my neighbors in District 7 can use an eager and diligent advocate.

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

To put it simply, managing a small business is always a challenge. I believe that my budgeting capabilities, communication skills, reputation, and efficiency over the past 30+ years of managing my company, are all evidence of how I can handle serving the interests of the residents in District 7. In addition, my positions as a community volunteer over the years, and past experience as president of the Mosswood Condominium Association, point to my willingness to serve our community.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Best to be a good listener!

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

District 7 Neighborhoods/Geography: Gould Manor, Green Acre, Tanaka Park & the University Neighborhood, Katona, Sunny Ridge & Sun Set, between North Benson and Jennings, and Jennings up to High Street.

Map of the RTM districts: https://www.fairfieldct.org/filestorage/10726/12538/12540/12463/113916/RTM_Redistricting_Final_Map_Dec_6_2022_Small.pdf