Patch Candidate Profile: Terry Rooney​, Monroe First Selectman

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.

Terry Rooney, 53, is running for election as Monroe first selectman on the Republican line.

Education.

Masuk High School- Class of 1988, Graduate Bridgeport Police Academy - 1993

What is your occupation?

Small Business Partner/Owner for 22 years and retired Bridgeport Police Officer. Was Police Officer for 11 years. Retired due to spinal injury incurred on duty.

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

Wife Nadine (married 24 years). Nadine works as a perioperative nurse at a local hospital. One son, Conor who is a sophomore in college.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My family has always been community oriented but I am the only one serving in local politics/government on Town Council since 2015.

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

Currently an incumbent on Town Council. Prior to my service on Town Council, I served on the Lake Zoar Authority from 2012-2013 and Parks & Recreation Commission from 2013-2015 when I was first put on Town Council.

Why are you seeking this office?

As my involvement in public service has grown, I have found that my expertise in business, public safety and my two decades of charitable fundraising have given me a skill set that I can bring to the office of First Selectman. Most important of that is I have learned how to build and nurture the teamwork necessary to run government. I enjoy working with people of many backgrounds and find that my leadership style has been very successful in the handling of town operations. I can cite my successful completion of the new EMS facility which, with the obstacles due to the pandemic, was completed within appropriation. My consideration to seek the office of First Selectman was primarily motivated by my fellow Monroe citizens asking me to consider running after current First Selectman Ken Kellogg announced his retirement. My fellow citizens have stated that my unwavering dedication to Monroe throughout the last decade is a primary factor in them wanting me to run. It was necessary for me to have a serious discussion with my family on running and we collectively understand that despite the challenges the position of First Selectman presents, that I should run and continue my service to the town.

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 issues is taxes. I realize that goods and services are getting more expensive in everyday life. Those expenses as they impact us everyday also raise costs in the municipal sector. Through my work in the town and on the Monroe Republican Town Committee, we have brought in the talent to move Monroe forward in the area of responsible commercial economic development. This in turn will help to offset increases in taxes. My goal as First Selectman is to find motivated investors and business owners to bring structures and services that the citizens of Monroe need and want.

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

In my humble opinion, the office of First Selectman is not a job that you just "jump" into. It is critical that a candidate have legislative experience to understand how the many processes of local government work. In the many years of working with Town Hall employees, I have built relationships with directors of every department and many employees that work for municipal side of Monroe. Through my experience working in the town's legislative body, the Town Council, I have learned how municipal government operates. I understand the roles and responsibilities of town departments and volunteer committees and their charter based requirements and duties. As a businessman, I consider the office of First Selectman as the equivalent of being a CEO of a corporation. I can bring my business and public safety background to that job.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

There is no incumbent running for First Selectman of Monroe. The current First Selectman is retiring at the end of his term. With keeping tax increases at under 1% for the last 6 years, I think the current First Selectman, Ken Kellogg, has done an outstanding job in the office. I will seek to build on the strong foundations he is leaving us.

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

Monroe is growing as a town. As First Selectman I will continually seek to improve the town's infrastructure and public safety to meet those growing needs. My goal is to seek businesses that will employ people who will want to live and work in Monroe and grow our overall local economy.

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

My contributions to the Town of Monroe speak for themselves. Being part of an administration that has moved Monroe in a direction that is so positive and financially stable that Monroe continues to be a wonderful place to live. I have learned during the development of the EMS facility project, how to save tax payer dollars and through competitive bidding and diligent contract review, the committee was able to save in the area of $500,000 of tax payer money. This $500,000 in savings is the equivalent of 50 families paying $10,000 in taxes. That savings is extremely helpful come the time of the annual town budget preparation. In addition, through that project, I also learned the importance of obtaining grants for capital projects and as First Selectman will pursue those options to provide additional relief to the tax burden on our citizens. I have shown that I can manage people, work in a bi-partisan manner and successfully complete large capital projects for the town.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The best advice I was given was to never throw out the old but never be too quick to adopt the new.

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

What I want the voters to know is that the office of First Selectman is a position that requires legislative experience which I have. The job requires you to make decisions quickly and accurately while maintaining compliance with town, state and federal regulations. In addition, we need to balance that with the needs and concerns of our citizens. I believe I am the best candidate for First Selectman because the position demands the wearing of many hats. Having worn many hats as a businessman, an employer, a policeman, a Town Councilman I am a proven leader that can manage budgets and complete projects. I am able to switch hats quickly and appropriately to get the best results in any situation. I hope that the citizens of Monroe will vote for me on Election Day, November 7, 2023. Thank you for your consideration.