Monroe Candidate Profile: Jonathan Formichella For Town Council

MONROE, CT — The 2019 municipal election is heating up in Monroe and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. First Selectman Ken Kellogg will face no challenger, but the races for town council and other offices are contested.

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

Jonathan Formichella is running for Town Council as a Republican. He is an attorney by trade and a current member of the council. He is a former member of the Building Board of Appeals and Planning and Zoning Commission as an alternate.

Are you running for office in Monroe? Contact Rich Scinto at rich.scinto@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Monroe Patch.

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

If I am chosen to continue to serve on the Town Council, my foremost priority is to control municipal taxes and spending. In order for Monroe to remain competitive with our surrounding communities, the Town Council and First Selectman must continue to present fiscally sensible budgets that reduce taxes on our citizens and businesses. Our First
Selectman, Ken Kellogg, has done a wonderful job working with the Town Council, Board of Education, and Board of Finance in crafting fiscally sound budgets that deliver exceptional town services and promote economic development. I look forward to having the opportunity to work with the First Selectman in the coming years.

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

The difference between me and the other candidates seeking a place on the Town Council is that I bring the critical combination of fresh eyes and experience. As the newest member of the Town Council, I am able to offer new and innovative solutions to the unsolved challenges of the past. But, because I have previous experience on the Planning and Zoning Commission and now on the Town Council, I am able to offer those solutions with the advantage of experience. With fresh eyes and experience, I am able to help solve the challenges of the past and anticipate and prevent future issues. Armed with these two distinct traits, I can effectively continue to serve on the Town Council.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

This campaign is about building on the great successes Monroe has achieved over the past few years. As a member of Town Council, I will continue to work with the First Selectman and build
upon those prior successes. First, I will advocate for continued improved services and efficiencies in town hall. Second, I will fight for responsible investment in our town’s infrastructure and essential services. Finally, I will champion further economic development in our town.

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

The First Selectman and Town Council have achieved a great number of successes over the past two years. In the realm of financial accountability, Monroe's taxes are lower today than
they were two years ago and Monroe's bond rating was increased. As for services the Town provides its residents, Monroe residents now enjoy increased hours of operation at the
library and Wolfe Park pool. The Town Council and First Selectman have delivered on their promise to repair our roads in a fiscally responsible manner.

During my time as a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Commission passed critical amendments that promoted economic growth while maintaining Monroe's rural character. The Commission updated our open space standards, increased the number
of permitted uses in a given zone, revised and reduced oppressive parking standards, and created an easy to use land use table of permitted uses.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

The best advice that was ever shared with me was "by failing to
prepare you are preparing to fail". Monroe must continue to prepare for future challenges and respond accordingly to those challenges. The Republican majority on the Town Council and the First Selectman are ready to meet those challenges.

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

As Connecticut faces tremendous fiscal challenges, Monroe has remained fiscally strong and a wonderful place to live and work in. If I am chosen to continue to serve this community as a member of the Town Council, I am committed to build upon our recent successes and keep Monroe a great place to live and work in.