Sarah Matthews Running For Fairfield RTM District 9

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.

Republican Sarah Matthews, 37, is running for Fairfield RTM District 9 in Fairfield.

Occupation: Consultant, Marketing & E-commerce

Family: Andrew, husband, 37,

Henry, son, 7

Cecilia, daughter, 5

Samantha, daughter, 2.5

Family in government: Father previously served on the Fairfield Board of Finance and Board of Education

Mother worked on numerous campaigns and was Deputy Treasurer of the State of Connecticut

Husband is on the Board of Trustees for the Fairfield Public Library

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

I am committed to protecting the integrity of our community and our environment, especially our beaches and shoreline, our floodplains. I am also acutely concerned with the beach area traffic and safety of our residents, and believe more needs to be done to keep our streets safe and welcoming. That all being said, this must be done with the utmost transparency and respectful collaboration between the RTM and other town governing bodies and boards, and with the financial burdens of the taxpayers always taken into consideration.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I grew up in the beach area and moved back here six years ago with my husband to raise our children in this beautiful community. As someone who is incredibly proud of this neighborhood and understands its past and present, I am an excellent choice to be a fierce advocate on the RTM for our future.

Accomplishments:

With a background in marketing, public relations, and project management, I am highly skilled at working within budgets and initiating collaboration between opposing opinions, while ensuring efficiency in getting a job done. As an example of my accomplishments with the above skills, I was the lead digital project manager for the 2013 Make-A-Wish SF BATKID campaign. I've been on the Sherman PTA since my son began kindergarten in 2019, and have been a room captain every year, dating back to when he began preschool, and so I know how to manage professional and volunteer responsibilities effectively.

Other issues:

With two of my three children in Fairfield Public Schools, and as our youngest prepares to enter FPS in a few years, and I believe that continuing to improve on our educational system is of the utmost importance.

Other issues of note:

- Support of local businesses and community events

- Town and University relations

- Mental health resources and support for our residents as we navigate this life-altering pandemic

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I do not back down. I am incredibly loyal to this town and ESPECIALLY to this neighborhood. I will listen to your concerns and ideas and choose COMMUNITY and respectful and thoughtful dialogue and action over partisan politics.