Middletown Election 2021: Kelly Sweeney Running For Planning & Zoning Commission

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

Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 2 and cast their ballots for seats on the Board of Education and Planning and Zoning Commission.

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

Democrat Kelly Sweeney, 40, is running for election to the Planning and Zoning Commission in Middletown.

Occupation: Marketing Technology Manager, Robinson & Cole Llp

Family:I share my life with my partner Melissa (Cytogeneticist) and her son Konnor (10). Two cats and a yorkie mix keep the house busy.

Experience: Charter Revision Commissioner (referendum also shares the ballot), Member Board of Ethics (2017-20), Member of the Democratic Town Committee, and Parking Violations Hearing Officer (2017-19)

Family in government: I come from a civic minded family and have been involved in various community events since youth. Though I am the first to serve my community in a political capacity.

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

Balanced development. We have a lot of really great things happening in Middletown and I want us to take steps to ensure that they also come with respect for the environment and our residents. We need to preserve our green spaces and be mindful of storm water (and how new development processes can create drainage issues) and we need to make sure folks can afford to be here (incorporate affordable housing) and want to be here (recreation that builds creativity and healthy mindset).

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I've dedicated my life to civic mindedness (in addition to my political appointments, I'm also Technology Deacon at First Church of Middletown). I come from a family that was always involved in something and I like to think it's in my blood. As a child my father was involved with the National Guard, his Union, and the Fire Department; later as a family we volunteered for the Appalachian Mountain Club and maintained a section of the AT (I picked up a lot of trash and you can still find me doing this). In high school it was Rotary Club, and in college I was involved with Amnesty International. I often wish I'd kept a list of each capacity I served the community and I think about those experiences and people often.

Accomplishments:

I'm dedicated to ensuring residents have a voice and are treated with respect and fairness. As a Commissioner for Middletown's Charter Revision, I listened to public feedback and helped update our Charter to respond to those needs (referendum questions share the ballot). While serving on the Board of Ethics, I investigated claims of ethical misconduct which protected our residents.

Other issues:

I come from a working family and I think that folks who work hard to make their homes in Middletown deserve to value living here. People need to feel they have a voice and their feedback is appreciated. I want to make sure steps are incorporated early in projects to better engage residents and collect feedback.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

If you see me out and about, don't be shy, say hi. I welcome folks to approach me and tell me about their experiences, because whether it's part of my platform, a future platform, or as something I can share with others, I want folks to feel heard.

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