Guilford Election 2021: Amy Earls Running For Board Of Finance

GUILFORD, CT — The state Municipal Election is Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Patch contacted candidates to answer questions about their campaigns.

Democrat Amy Earls, 42, is running for Board of Finance in Guilford.

Occupation: Vice President Of Page Hardware & Appliance Co.

Family: Husband Matt, children Zachary (14), Scarlet (14) both 8th graders at Adams Middle School, and Cordelia (9) 4th grader at Calvin Leete, parents Debbie and Charlie Peluse

Experience: Human Services Council and Economic Development Commission

Family in government: None

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

Division. Guilford has a legacy of collaborating to achieve common goals, as seen in volunteers fundraising for local non-profits, church mission work, advocacy for the arts, support for our youth and seniors, and bipartisan partnership in town government. This sense of unity has fractured recently. As a member of BOF, I will strive to listen to the divided perspectives and help approve a budget that supports the common goals of maintaining Guilford as a place with a high quality of life, superior educational system, and a welcoming character.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

While I am a registered Democrat, I was unaffiliated for most of my voting career, and I grew up in a fiscally-conservative, Republican household. Working in a hardware store, I learned the value of saving money by fixing and repurposing, but also that you have to spend money to make money. I will bring these values to my BOF position, balancing the fixed incomes of our seniors and limited opportunities for new tax-base development, with the need to invest in our town to maintain its vibrancy.

Accomplishments:

I have handled the finances for a multi-million-dollar Guilford business for 25 years, including making capital expenditure decisions and tracking cash flow. During my time there, I earned an MBA at the University of New Haven (complementing my art degree from Connecticut College). I have served on the Chamber of Commerce board, chaired the Guilford Foundation’s grant committee, serve on the town’s Human Services Council, and run the Guilford Green Merchants, a group of local businesses who collaborate on events and marketing. I regularly weigh the needs of different groups, and must justify financial decisions to all involved. My job on the BOF will utilize all of these skills.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I knew from an early age that I wanted to make Guilford my lifelong home. This community shares my love of music and the arts, local history, and service to others. I look forward to the opportunity to serve you, my neighbors, as a member of the Board of Finance.