Patch Candidate Profile: Jason Maur, Monroe Town Council

MONROE, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Monroe and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

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

Attorney Jason Maur, 38, is running for re-election to the Monroe Town Council as a Democrat. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Johns Hopkins University, double majoring in political science and psychology with a theater minor. He went on to obtain his Juris Doctorate from Quinnipiac University School of Law. He and his wife, Vicky, have twin children, Leah and Alex. Jason has served for the past six years on Town Council. Prior to that he served on the Monroe Commission on Aging and as a high schooler at Masuk was the Student Representative to the Monroe Board of Education.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Why are you seeking this office?

Having grown up here in Monroe, CT, I was provided with many opportunities: opportunities I want to be available to all people who are able to live here at any point in their lives. I desire to serve my hometown as a concerned citizen who wants to give back to the community that gave so much to me.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Taxes. It is always taxes, as everything we do is connected to them. My goal is not only to help keep our taxes under control but also to increase the services we receive for those taxes. I think people often glaze over the second part of a common statement I hear: "Our taxes are too high 'FOR WHAT WE GET'". I see no reason, with what we pay in taxes that our roads can't be in better shape, that we can't have access to our pool at the high school included, that we can't have garbage pick-up include, etc. Further, we are consistently overtaxed, with a surplus being returned each year. Our fund balance is well above the suggested amount from our Board of Finance. We should pass that excess back to the taxpayers.

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

I do my best to be available to all of my constituents. I have people from all across the political spectrum reach out to me and ask me questions about what is happening in town or if there is something that can be done with a specific issue. I do my best to respond to all of those and get answers back to the constituents. I feel we too often rubber stamp items presented to us, so I make sure to ask questions to be sure we have an understanding of what we are planning and that there is a long-term goal associated with those plans.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

In addition to taxes, I plan to continue my work on keeping our community informed, improving our economic development plans, and fixing our roads.

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

Along with the loving support of my family and my Monroe education and upbringing, I was able to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout; attend the top research university in the country, Johns Hopkins University, where I double majored in political science and psychology, with a minor in theater arts; gain employment with Senator Dodd, for whom I served on his team for the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; attend Quinnipiac University School of Law, where my studies included Education Law, Contract Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Negotiations, among other topics; achieve my lifelong goal of becoming an attorney, sworn into the CT State Bar November 1, 2010; and, most importantly, return to serve my hometown.

As a lifelong resident of Monroe, I love this town. I want to see it grow and flourish. I once served as the student representative to the Monroe Board of Education. I served the community for 6 years on the Monroe Commission on Aging, where I acted as the vice chair of the committee. Since then I have been serving the town on Town Council. I think we live in a wonderful town, with lots to offer. I would like to help make it even better. I don't just want to continue to serve this community, I want to help it reach greater heights. I have been a part of Monroe's past and have learned from it. I am part of Monroe's present and proudly serve it. I have a vision for Monroe's future, so let's be a part of it together. Vote Jason Maur for Town Council.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

That we all need to work together to accomplish the truly great things that are possible in life.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

The biggest thing is that I am always available, so if you have questions, please ask.