Madison Candidate Profile: Tom Banisch for First Selectman

MADISON, CT —Madison’s election season is heating up.

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

Tom Banisch, 65, is a Republican running for reelection as First Selectman.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you'd be representing.
No.

Education:

6/72 Barrington High School, Barrington, RI
6/76 Providence College, Providence, RI
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
6/86 University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
Masters, Business Administration – Marketing

Occupation:

First Selectman - 4 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

Member – Madison Town Communications Committee 2000
Chair – Madison Town Charter Review Committee 1999-2001
Chair – Madison Town Charter Review Committee 2005-2006
Member – Madison Beach & Recreation Commission 2004-2015
Chair – Madison Beach & Recreation Commission 2010-2015
Member – Madison Republican Town Committee 2004-Present
Chair – Madison Republican Town Committee 2006-2015
Member - CT Republican State Central Committee 2011 – Present
Member - South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG) 2015-Present
Chair – South Central Regional Council of Governments 2019-Present
Member – Board of Directors-Council of Small Towns (COST) 2016-Present
Member – Executive Board-Council of Small Towns (COST) 2017-Present
Member – Board of Directors-Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) 2017-Present
Member – Executive Board--Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) 2018-Present
Member – Board of Directors-Workforce Alliance 2017-Present
Vice Chair – Board of Directors-Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency (CIRMA) 2019-Present
Member – Executive Board-Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency (CIRMA) 2018-Present
Member- Advisory Commission On Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR) 2018-Present

The single most pressing issue facing our town/district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Taxes. Implement controls within our budget to manage our debt and capital spending to keep our tax increases to a minimum.

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

I am committed to watching our spending and my opponent isn't.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

-Maintain a low tax rate
-Look ahead to soon-to-be needed school and town building improvements so they can be completed in the most cost-effective way.
-Continue Infrastructure improvements

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

I have four years of experience in leading our town through troubled times in the State of CT.
We've held taxes to a reasonable level and focused on infrastructure improvements. We've gone out to RFP for all major services and have achieved savings as a result. We've streamlined and modernized the process for tax payments making it easier and more accessible to the public via People’s Bank.
I supported changes in our Medical/Wellness program that has helped stabilize the cost of healthcare for town employees.
Moved Academy School process forward.
Set up better internal controls on expenditures.
Advanced Towns Risk Management program to reduce liability and claims.
Represent the Town, through CCM Executive Board, on all legislative matters threatening to impact municipalities
Supported the lease agreement for OLM
Expanded town business hours to include a late night Thursday to benefit businesses and taxpayers
Supported regionalization efforts with shoreline towns for initiatives involving health and dispatch.
Supported long term initiatives to catch up and, maintain and project for long term infrastructure maintenance of bridges and town roads.
Supported long term planning for all town projects in a way that does not negatively affect the budget.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

Always be truthful.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I will work tirelessly to represent the interests of the residents of Madison locally and at the state level to assure that we are treated fairly and are not penalized for the problems and mistakes of the state government.

Are you running for office in Madison? Contact Ellyn Santiago at ellyn.santiago@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Madison Patch.