Patch Candidate Profile: Sarah Healey, Farmington Town Council

FARMINGTON, CT — Farmington Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Farmington resident Sarah Healey is running for the Farmington Town Council as a Republican.

The following is Healey's questionnaire sent to Patch:

Name

Sarah Healey

How old will you be as of Election Day?

40

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

https://www.farmingtonctgop.or...

What city or town do you live in?

Farmington

What office are you seeking?

Farmington Town Council

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

Town Council -1st District

Please give us your party affiliation.

Republican

Education

J.D., with honors, University of Connecticut School of Law; B.A., summa cum laude, Drew University

What is your occupation?

I have been an attorney for 15 years. I focus my practice on employment litigation.

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

I have been married to my husband, John, for fourteen years. We have lived in Farmington for over 10 years. We have two children, ages 8 and 6, who attend Noah Wallace Elementary School.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No one in my family works in Farmington town government.

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

I have served on the Farmington Board of Education since January 2020.

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?

My grandfather and grandmother, Al and Mary-Elizabeth Boettger, built their home on Two Mile Road after my grandfather returned from fighting in WWII. My mother and her siblings attended Farmington public schools and my sister and I spent a lot of time in Farmington with our grandparents when we were growing up. I truly love this town and believe it is a uniquely special and beautiful place to raise a family. I am running for Town Council because I am committed to ensuring it remains that way for all who live here. As an attorney, mother of two children, and current Board of Education member, I have a strong work ethic, a sense of civic duty, and the ability to collaborate with others for the common good. If elected, I would be honored to work for the residents of Farmington to ensure a continued bright future for our town and financial stability for all taxpayers.

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

Striking the balance between world-class services (like great schools and safe streets) and keeping the tax rate as affordable as possible. We are a top-5 school system in the state, we have emergency and municipal services that are second to none, and we've been able to do it while having the lowest mill rate among all the Farmington River Valley towns. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens when our leaders are willing to invest in what matters and make tough, but compassionate, budgetary decisions.

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

As a mother of two young children beginning their student careers in Farmington public schools, I am invested in the future of Farmington, both for them and their peers. As a trial attorney, I am a skilled problem solver and I love a challenge. I also enjoy working with, and learning from others, to develop practical and reasonable solutions to today's challenges and will work tirelessly to put us on a path to a bright tomorrow.

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

Other important issues facing the town are the completion of the new Farmington High School construction, as well as the renovations of the 1928 Building that were approved at referendum earlier this year. It is critically important that both projects are completed on time and on budget. The town must continue to be proactive in providing transparent progress updates, and timely and accurate answers to questions. I have had the privilege of serving on the Farmington High School Building Committee for the past two years and witnessing firsthand the careful attention the town has placed on overseeing a fiscally responsible project that also meets the needs of our students, families, and teaching staff.

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

I have served on the Farmington Board of Education for the past four years. In that capacity, I have also served on many subcommittees including the Personnel and Curriculum Committee, the Farmington High School Building Committee, and the Elementary Enrollment Committee. I am a partner at a large Connecticut-based law firm and am a trial attorney whose practice is focused on employment law. I work with clients daily to advocate for them in many forums - including in court - and to help them find solutions to complicated legal and business issues. I've repeatedly been named as a "Rising Star" to the annual list of "Super Lawyers" in Connecticut, and have been named "Litigation Star for Benchmark Litigation-Labor and Employment." For years, I have also volunteered as a pro bono attorney representing children in neglect and abuse matters. Earlier this year, I was honored to receive the Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award from Lawyers for Children America. Both my personal and professional accomplishments have helped me hone the skills necessary to serve successfully on the Town Council.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

One of the best pieces of advice I received before I joined the Board of Education was to take time to really listen and learn about how the school administration works, and dig into the facts of any particular issue before advocating for a specific position. That is a practice I would continue if elected to the Town Council.