Glastonbury Election 2023: Jennifer Wang

GLASTONBURY, CT — Jennifer Wang is running for a town council seat in Glastonbury in the 2023 election.

Name

Jennifer Wang

How old will you be as of Election Day?

39

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

https://www.glastonburydems.co...

What city or town do you live in?

Glastonbury

What office are you seeking?

Town Council

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

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democrat

Education.

Master of Science in Global Health and Environment from UC Berkeley; Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Rice University

What is your occupation?

Program manager in nonprofits and higher education (16 years)

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

Husband and school-age daughter

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

N/A

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

Glastonbury Town Council (2021 to present)

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’m running for a second term because I’ve always been an active volunteer in my community, and I enjoy connecting with people from all walks of life. I love that Council work requires both research and analysis, as well as public outreach and being a “people person.” I’ve truly enjoyed my time on the Council so far – learning about our history and how our local government works, meeting many incredible yet humble individuals who make Glastonbury awesome, and understanding different perspectives on issues. I’d like to serve another term to build on that learning curve and do my best to continue representing the wonderful people of Glastonbury.

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

Sustainable development – and by sustainable I mean environmentally, economically, and socially, also known as the “triple bottom line,” which I believe should be the guiding ethos of local government. To promote sustainable development, I’d work towards setting ambitious, achievable, and cost-effective goals for net zero electricity, fossil fuel phase-out, and landfill waste reduction; shoring up our infrastructure and supporting our farms to deal with extreme weather; promoting biking, walking, and transit as safe and effective means of transportation that can replace car trips and mitigate congested roads and parking lots; and steering housing development to advance our affordable housing goals while minimizing environmental impacts. These actions will all yield “triple bottom line” value to Glastonbury residents through better environmental quality and its associated health benefits; lower costs for electricity, fuel, and disaster recovery; more economic activity; and a healthier and more vibrant community.

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

My life, work, and education have brought me to many corners of the country and the world, so I’m open-minded about a lot of different lifestyles and worldviews and can easily find common ground. My background in science and policy means I’m very analytical and like to do my research. I especially like to look into what other communities have done with similar challenges so that we can strive for the state-of-the-art, avoid known pitfalls, and not reinvent the wheel. As a musician, I believe arts and culture can open hearts and minds and bring people together. Finally, I do believe “representation matters,” and I’m proud to bring my perspective as an Asian-American woman, immigrant, and working mom to local leadership.

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

N/A

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

1) Maintaining a lean budget that prudently meets our community’s needs by finding efficiencies and grants and growing the grand list. 2) Tackling our town and region’s dire lack of housing supply and affordability by examining our zoning regulations and housing strategies to thoughtfully shape public and private development. 3) Building our sense of community connection and inclusivity by supporting arts and culture programming, and making it more meaningful to volunteer on public boards and commissions. 4) Preserving our agricultural heritage and promoting our farms by making strategic land purchases, engaging our Agricultural Advisory Committee, pursuing state grants, and promoting our ‘Right to Farm’ status.

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

As with many jobs, this (unpaid) one requires leveraging knowledge and passion to achieve results. During my first term on Town Council, I’ve contributed unique insights that have enhanced our Affordable Housing Plan, our inclusionary zoning ordinance, and our Nye Road mixed income housing initiative; I’ve worked with a community committee and Council leadership to achieve bipartisan support for a Glastonbury MLK Mural Project that will honor our local history and civil rights heroes; and I’ve brought grant opportunities to the attention of town staff to support our farms and develop traffic calming plans. Professionally, I’ve managed international teams that have assisted major health systems to tackle climate change, and that have mobilized health professionals to successfully challenge fossil fuel expansion and advocate for clean energy. I’ve also consulted on LEED green building certification of over 4 million square feet of Class A commercial office space.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

用心 - this Chinese phrase literally means “use heart,” but it can be interpreted as “be intentional,” “be diligent,” and “use care.”

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

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as your Council member. Thank you for considering me for another term. I hope to continue working with you and for you!