Manchester Candidate Profile 2019: Dennis Schain, Directors

MANCHESTER, CT — Manchester's election season is heating up, and there are plenty of contested races with candidates eager to represent their town in November's municipal election. Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns, and has been publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Dennis Schain is running for Manchester Board of Directors as a Democrat.

Occupation

Retired now. Had a career of more than 40 years as a journalist, covering CT communities for CT daily newspapers; working in public and community relations for leading CT companies such as Travelers, The Courant, UTC, Fleet Bank; and in public service as press secretary to a CT Governor and Communications Director and spokesman for the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I am a first-time candidate. I have not previously held elective office. I currently serve on Manchster's Sustainability Task Force.

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

The most difficult challenge facing the Manchester Board of Directors is how to continue transforming a town that came to life in the industrial revolution of the 19th and 20th centuries into a success story in the high-tech, Amazon world of the 21st Century. We've made great progress down this road - with the strength of a diverse population, a strong local economy, a Main St. that's coming to life, outstanding town services, investments in modern public school facilities, and tremendous outdoor recreation opportunities with our park system, hiking trails, bikeways. We need to build on these successes to make Manchester the best place in CT to live, work, and raise a family.

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

I will bring a unique perspective to the Board of Directors as the result of my experience in both the private sector and public service. I know how to make government work - and I also understand "the bottom line." I understand issues and challenges, and know how to work with people to find common sense and practical solutions.

List other issues that define your campaign platform

One of Manchster's greatest strengths is its diversity, and the opportunity for people of all racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds to live and work together. We must continue to make it clear that we are a "welcoming community," for all, and that everyone in our town has an opportunity to be heard, to be included, to succeed, and to participate in the civic and cultural life of this community.

We must also make certain that Manchester remains an affordable community - and that means working hard to keep property taxes in check. We must find creative ways to maintain the high quality, comprehensive services the people of our town enjoy - at a cost everyone can afford to pay. This means looking carefully at all expenditures, seeking out all possible new sources of revenue, from federal and state grants to funding from foundations, and making sure our government is organized to operate in the most efficient and effective fashion. It also means focusing on continued economic growth in order to expand our tax base.

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

My wife Karen and I have lived in Manchester for more than 40 years. We raised our two children here, and they went through the town's public school system and graduated from MHS. We now have grandchildren living in Manchester. We are committed to this community and its success.