Hamden Election 2021: Lauren Garrett Running For Mayor

HAMDEN, CT — The 2021 municipal election is heating up in Hamden with plenty of races on the ballot.

Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 2 and cast their ballots for mayor and town clerk along with seats on the legislative council and board of education.

Hamden Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Lauren Garrett, 40, is running for mayor of Hamden as a Democrat.

Occupation: Real Estate Investor

Family:
Abigail, 16 Hamden High Junior
Connor, 14 Hamden High Freshman
Bobby, 9 West Woods 4th grader

Experience: Inland Wetlands Commissioner 2016-2017. Hamden Legislative Council 2017-2019

Family in government: No

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

Taxes! In the last 6 years, taxes have gone up 25%. We have over $1.3 billion in liabilities and the most debt per capita of any municipality in the state. Our bond rating is one step above junk bond status. Our fund balance went negative in the most recent audit and is now only being propped up with more borrowed money. My opponent was in favor of the same fiscal policy that got us into this mess 15 years ago.

We need a new path forward. We need to stop awarding contracts based on political connections. Our contracts for service need to get sent out to bid in a competitive bid process. We need to negotiate costs for savings. We need to stop giving out excessive voluntary raises to department heads. This past year, while many companies laid-off workers and faced hiring freezes, the Republicans on the council voted for voluntary raises, including a raise of $25, 000!

The good news is that Hamden has an opportunity to invest the federal American Recovery funds into infrastructure and economic development. Unfortunately, the previous administration has already used $6 million of the American Recovery funds to plug holes in their budget. We need responsible, stable leadership to allocate the rest of this funding so we don't waste any more opportunities. Cuts and savings will not be enough to address our financial challenges. Economic development and a thriving local economy will improve people's lives AND reduce our dependence on property taxes to manage town finances. I have spoken with people who tried opening a business in Hamden but were ignored. For example: Counterweight, a popular Hamden business that was looking to expand, reached a dead end so we lost them to a neighboring town.

My experience on the Legislative Council showed me what is working well and not so well in our town. As a small business owner, I have paid off debt, grown my business, and negotiated good deals - all things we need to do in Hamden. I have a skilled and hard-working team in place to get to work on day one. You can trust that I will work with other small businesses to guide them through the process of realizing their dream while at the same time growing our grandlist.

Critical differences between me and my opponent:

I have been a leader in our town educating people about our financial challenges. I have relationships with our state and federal delegation and members of the Board of Education and Legislative Council that will allow for productive collaboration. People trust the way I explain our challenges and elected officials reach out to me for answers. I have a skilled and hard-working team in place to get to work on day one. As a parent with 3 kids in Hamden Public Schools and I am deeply invested in all of our student outcomes. These experiences set me apart from the other candidate.

Accomplishments:

My work on the Legislative Council in uncovering the financial shell games and clearly communicating them to the community has earned the trust of the voters. I run a small business that is successful because of careful planning and good financial strategy. My organizing and advocacy around issues lets voters know where I’ll stand.

Other issues:

Education and Environment.

I believe that equitable access to education is a fundamental right of all children. I will collaborate with Hamden Public School (HPS) administration, educators, and and families to create an optimal learning environment that allows all students to reach their potential.

I will make our town more environmentally sustainable and save money at the same time.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

It has been my pleasure to speak with thousands of Hamden residents over the past several months. It is clear that our residents are ready for change - change that doesn’t come at the cost of our Democratic values. Please vote for change we can trust and go to LaurenforHamden.com to find out more about my vision and to be a part of the change that my team and I will bring to our town. And don’t forget to Vote for Row A on November 2nd.

See also: Hamden Election 2021: Ron Gambardella Running For Mayor

Are you running for office in Hamden? Email vincent.salzo@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile on Hamden Patch.