Middletown Election 2021: Stephen H. Devoto 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.

Unaffiliated (independent) Stephen H. Devoto, 61, is running for re-election to the Middletown Planning and Zoning Commission.

Occupation: Biology Teacher And Scientist

Family: Married to Joyce, with two wonderful children. One is a cattle rancher, the other is in college.

Experience: 8 years serving on Planning and Zoning and 5 years as chair.

Family in government: No

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

RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT. As a member of the Riverfront Master Plan steering committee, I am pushing for mixed use of the riverfront. We need open space and walking trails to enjoy the beautiful riverfront, we need commerce to attract area residents, provide jobs, and provide financial support for public goods, and to pay back to the city some of the tax dollars that were used to create the riverfront. I also will push to provide a mix of housing options, to create an economic and social ecosystem that makes the riverfront thriving, vibrant, environmentally sustainable, and connected to the rest of the city.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

EXPERIENCE and INDEPENDENCE. I have attended Planning and Zoning meetings for over 20 years, have been on the commission for 8 years, and have been unanimously elected its chair for 5 years. I know the city and all its neighborhoods. I have the experience to challenge staff, as well as developers to make sure that development proposals are good for our city. I have worked with mayors of both political parties equally well.

Accomplishments:

MODERNIZING our Zoning Code. We have written a new 10-year plan for the city, our Plan of Conservation and Development. It lays out a vision to make the city even more thriving, vibrant, environmentally sustainable and connected. I am proud we have made year round farmers markets, craft breweries, farm brewery/cidery/winery, and businesses legal. I am proud that our zoning code now requires new parking lots to include electric vehicle charging stations.

Other issues:

I have Experience, and will work for Economic development, Environmental sustainability, and Equity in housing options.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

Planning and Zoning should not be partisan, our decisions affect the city far longer than the cycles of party dominance. My decisions are not based on what is good for the Democratic or the Republican party, and they are based on what is good for the residents of Middletown.