William Gerber Running For Fairfield RTM District 2

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.

Democrat William Gerber, 57, is running for RTM, District 2 in Fairfield.

Occupation: Former Cfo, Global Insurance Industry

Family: My wife, Jessica, serves on the Board of Education. My two children, John and Gillian, are proud graduates of the Fairfield Public School system.

Experience: Currently serving my 4th term on the RTM

Family in government: My wife, Jessica Gerber, is currently serving a 3rd term on the Board of Education in Fairfield. She has served as an officer all three terms.

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

1. Maintain and improve (where needed) our public school system, including facilities. Our public schools draw families to Fairfield, support our real estate values and drive significant commercial activity in town. I will continue to review and assess quality and spending metrics and advocate for appropriate funding for education. Air quality and circulation in our buildings is more important than ever due to COVID19, higher temperatures, mold risk, and the potential for school lock-downs. I will advocate for accelerated funding in this area.

2. Clean up sites with hazardous waste, whether coming from the fill pile or other sources. We must get this done ASAP; it is taking too long. We must continue to, on an ongoing basis, identify and investigate all sources of contamination and deal with them urgently. This may require an independent commission with the authority to investigate and work with whistleblowers who wish to remain anonymous.

3. Protect against the effects of climate change, including flooding. Make flood and erosion control more important than ever. I will advocate for investments in this area.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

Not all members of the RTM believe Fairfield Public Schools should be funded in a way to keep us competitive with our peer districts. Nor do all appreciate the urgent need to escalate the speed of investments in school air quality and air circulation.

Accomplishments:

I have had an excellent working relationship with members of the school board and administration, allowing me to understand many of the issues facing the system. I have been a consistent advocate for sufficient, smart investments in public education. I have also been very responsive to District 2 constituents' concerns on a diverse range of topics, some very specific to them, their street, their property, etc.

Other issues:

I support strong, representative government, encouraging Fairfield's citizens to participate in the process through elected office, commissions, boards and committees. I believe that the more the participation, the more knowledgeable the populace about Town affairs, the more politicians will be held accountable. It may seem messy at times, but this is how we keep Fairfield one of the best Towns to live in the United States. Some things can be adjusted for efficiency, but we should not change the essence of what makes us great.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I believe in transparency. If something is bothering me about our Town government, I will not hesitate to call it out publicly. If you know about an issue that I am not aware of, or is of importance to you, you can contact me and I will listen.