Patch Candidate Profile: Scott Bisang, RTM District 2

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

Scott Bisang

How old will you be as of Election Day?

38

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

https://www.fairfielddemocrats.com/

What city or town do you live in?

Fairfield

What office are you seeking?

RTM District 2

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

District 2

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democrat

Education.

BS in newspaper journalism from S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University

What is your occupation?

Founding partner of Collected Strategies, strategic communications firm

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

Married to Tempest Bisang, father of two school-aged children 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?

No, first time running for office of any kind (never even ran for student council!)

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 tired of politicians at every level (including town offices) blaming others and refusing to hold people accountable.

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

The safety of our communities, including excessive speeding and roads that aren't safe to walk on. There are common sense solutions that can be implemented -- nobody should be killed walking in their neighborhood.

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

I am sadly one of the youngest people running for the RTM and I'm not even young. Most people are discouraged from running for office because politics (even at a local level) have become so nasty. We need to make politics more accessible and encourage participation from all ages.

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

Town leadership has failed the residents of Fairfield by making it about themselves, not the issues that actually matter. Less blame, more accountability.

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

The RTM has specific powers and it's important to educate residents on what they can -- and cannot do. In addition to promoting ordinances relating to safety and pedestrian safety, I will be a sensible, fiscally responsible vote on the town budget and stand up for our first responders, who have been neglected by the current administration.

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

I embrace failure. At a young age, I started my first business, which was a colossal flop because I focused too much on what I wanted and not enough on what other people did. We should focus on the things that matter to your neighbors -- it's not about "me" but "we."

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Your character is defined by how you act when nobody is watching and how you treat those you owe nothing.

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

There's no place in town politics for the vitriol and nastiness that we unfortunately see at a national level. Sadly, that is no longer the case in Fairfield but we don't have to accept it moving forward.

Most residents agree on the basic issues in our town -- promoting safe, walkable streets, supporting our first responders, instituting sensible economic and development policies that promote smart growth, and holding our elected officials accountable. Sadly, too much of the dialogue is focused on blaming other people vs. doing what's right for our neighbors. I'm tired of hearing excuses -- it's far easier to work together with our neighbors -- regardless of their party affiliation -- to do what's right and sensible.