Kellogg Will Not Seek 4th Term As First Selectman In Monroe

MONROE, CT — First Selectman Ken Kellogg has announced he will not be seeking a 4th term in November.

In a statement released Tuesday, Kellogg, a Republican, said he was stepping away to spend more time with his family.

Full statement follows:

"I will not be seeking a fourth term as First Selectman of Monroe. This is a decision that has taken me significant time and consideration and comes with mixed emotions. While serving this wonderful community is extremely rewarding, I have concluded that it is simply time for me to focus on my family.

"Over six years ago, when I decided to run for First Selectman, I did so with full knowledge of the demands of this job. That includes the responsibilities that continue regardless of the hour of the day, or the day of the week. My family has fully supported me, despite their sacrifices, while I concentrated on Town business, including frequent evening meetings and many weekend obligations.

"I am grateful for the incredible dedication and support from so many people. We are fortunate to have department heads and Town staff that strive to meet high standards, contain costs, and deliver excellent customer service. Those who are appointed or elected to boards and commissions give generously of their time and talents to provide a strong local government. We have amazing volunteers who help support numerous departments and many who volunteer to save lives. They have my heartfelt thanks.

"I’m proud of the team’s accomplishments. Our work to completely revolutionize our land use team and permitting procedures has transformed Monroe into a business-friendly town that supports responsible development and has led to significant growth in the Town’s Grand List. We achieved the highest possible AAA bond rating that speaks volumes of our financial strength and discipline. We have delivered collaborative and responsible budgets that have controlled taxes to an average of less than a 1% increase per year, all of which were approved by Monroe’s voters on the first referendum vote. We came together, as a strong and caring community, living through a historic pandemic that tested our resilience.

"My dedication to this job will not diminish until I have fulfilled the remainder of my term. I will be here, working hard, for this great Town of Monroe."