Patch Candidate Profile: Jonathan Formichella​, 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 Jonathan Formichella, 30, is running for a re-election to the Monroe Town Council as a Republican.

Education.

Quinnipiac University School of Law - Juris Doctor; College of the Holy Cross - Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Town Council (2019 - present) - Chairman; Planning and Zoning Commission - Alternate Member (2017 - 2019); Building Board of Appeals (2015 - 2017)

Why are you seeking this office?

I am campaigning for another term on the Town Council because I want to continue to give back to the wonderful community that I call home.

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

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is taxes. I will continue to advocate for fiscally responsible budgets that limit the tax burden on Monroe families and businesses.

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

The major differences between the other candidates and myself are my experience and my proven record of voting for fiscally responsible budgets and appropriate investments in Monroe's infrastructure and community programming. As a team, the First Selectman and the Town Council have mitigated tax increases while continuing to improve Monroe's roads and facilities over the last few years. I am proud to be part of that team.

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

Monroe needs to continue investing in community programming and our facilities. Recently, the Town Council approved bonding resolutions that appropriately invest in our roads, provide necessary funding for school improvements, and provide equipment to our public works department. Additionally, the Town Council approved a contract to purchase the property and building associated with Saint Jude’s School for a community center. If reelected, I will support similar projects.

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

As I stated in a 2021 election interview, my foremost priority as Chairman of the Town Council is to control municipal taxes and spending while responsibly investing in our infrastructure and community. Over the past two years, we accomplished that goal and I intend to continue to advocate for those priorities if reelected. First Selectman Ken Kellogg has presented fiscally responsible budgets that properly invest in critical infrastructure, and I was proud to support those budgets. Those budgets allowed the town to purchase new vehicles and equipment for our volunteer firefighters that protect our community. Through the budgeting process, the town has been able to invest in our parks and recreation offerings with the installation of new basketball courts and an expansion of the fields at Wolfe Park. This is not an exhaustive list of the many great things that have happened in Monroe because of the dedication and hard work of our First Selectman, the Town Council, town hall administrators, and the many volunteers on our boards and commissions.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The best advice that was ever shared with me was "by failing to prepare you are preparing to fail." Being successful at anything in life requires dedication and preparing for potential challenges that you may face.

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

The next two years are crucial for Monroe and its future. Monroe requires experienced and forward-thinking individuals that have shown voters what Monroe can accomplish under dedicated and knowledgeable leadership. I humbly ask the voters of Monroe to continue to place their trust in me through their vote on November 7, 2023.