Glastonbury Election 2023: Mary LaChance, Town Council

GLASTONBURY, CT — Mary LaChance is running for a seat on the Glastonbury Town Council in the 2023 election.

Name

Mary LaChance

How old will you be as of Election Day?

48

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

What city or town do you live in?

Glastonbury, CT

What office are you seeking?

Glastonbury Town Council

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

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democrat

Education.

BS in Mathematics of Operations Research from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

What is your occupation?

Sr Director - Data Engineering, working in IT for over 25 years

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

Gregory (spouse), Kate (20), Dan (18)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

Glastonbury Town Council since 2017, Vernon Zoning Board of Appeals 2003

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 love Glastonbury, and it is an honor to give back by volunteering my town. I believe I bring a lot to the Town Council through my work experience of managing budgets and people. I also co-founded the Glastonbury Robotics and Engineering Club where we grew the program to the largest school-aged robotics program in Connecticut. I saw first hand the power of people volunteering in their community.

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

Property taxes. Glastonbury, like many other communities across the country, saw personal property values increase and commercial properties decrease during the pandemic. This happened just as we were performing our revaluation process, required every 5 years. As a result, the town's tax burden shifted more towards homeowner, than commercial property owners.

Realizing this would put a strain on homeowners, we worked hard to hold the budget down. We need to continue this work as we look out into future. We also need to look to how to ensure our businesses stay viable, which will help lessen the tax burden on homeowners in the future.

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

I believe it's important to work together across the political spectrum. I grew up in a conservative area outside of Buffalo, NY at a time when the steel mills were moving overseas and the area had negative population growth. That upbringing had a very strong impact on me. It taught me the importance of community and working together to get through hard times.

While I am a Democrat, many of my family members are Republicans. I think that's made me a better person. Our conversations about the issues of the day allow me to see different sides of the issues.

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

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

We need to continue work on preserving open space and developing and enforcing design guidelines in town. We want to ensure that we have a walkable downtown area that is not too congested. We also want to make sure that our town maintains the architectural New England charm.

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

I'm proud of the work we've done managing the budget, hiring the new town manager, advancing workforce housing, creating the village district overlay and design guidelines, and fending off the State's efforts to encroach on local control over zoning.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Okay, I know this doesn't really tie into the campaign, but it is the best advice someone ever gave me. Invest in your 401K from your first day the maximum amount allowed or at the very least up to the amount the company will match. That way you will never miss the money and will build your budget around it. And do not put the money into your company stock (this was pre-Enron) because if the company goes under you lose your present and your future.

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

This isn't about me. It's about them. Your vote matters more in a municipal election more so than any other election. Please let your voice be heard.