Patch Candidate Profile: Myke Hartigan Nicholas, RTM District 3

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

Myke Hartigan Nicholas

How old will you be as of Election Day?

44

What city or town do you live in?

Fairfield, CT

What office are you seeking?

Fairfield RTM

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

District 3

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democrat

Education.

Bachelors Degree in Environmental Science

What is your occupation?

Environmental Consultant

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

Married with five children enrolled in Fairfield Public Schools

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

None

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

None

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?

Dedicating time and effort into my community has always been important to me. I love living in Fairfield and I'm very appreciative for all the opportunities my family has in this town. I look forward to giving back to the community that has given a great deal to me.

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

Accountability. Avoiding accountability is the first step towards not solving a problem. My constituents need a candidate who will apply themselves to the issues faced by the town and work towards a solution, rather than putting off our issues in the hopes they will be resolved in the future.

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

I prioritize problems over party lines. I am willing to work with anyone who has an honest interest in making improvements to our community and building for the future. We are all each others neighbors and we should find strength in cooperation with each other.

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

The environmental contamination due to illegal dumping of hazardous materials in Fairfield is a serious issue which needs to be managed on multiple levels.

Fairfield needs a cohesive plan to investigate and remediate the contamination which has already occurred and proper safeguards in place to ensure such an incident does not happen in the future.

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

I served as representative, vice president, and president of the Lake Hills Association, a community of approximately 540 homes within District 3.

During my time in these positions, I learned a great deal about the people in my community and their needs. Community problem solving was a daily affair. I often needed to listen to my neighbors and consider their views even when they did not align with my own.

I gained a great deal of experience on working within my community to find and implement solutions to a wide variety of issues including: managing a communal budget, creating policies for health and safety, providing effective communication within our community, maintaining the overall health and ecology of the lake, and bringing our community together through social events. Most importantly I learned a tremendous amount about working with a team to accomplish shared goals.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

A community's spirit rests upon the amount of gratuity the community is willing to give back to itself.