New London Candidate Profile: Ronna Stuller for City Council

NEW LONDON, CT —New London’s election season is heating up.

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

Ronna Stuller, 70, a member of the Green Party, is running for election to the City Council.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you'd be representing.

No; however, husband Bob serves (as a volunteer) on the New London Conservation, Inland Wetlands and Shade Tree Commission and the Sustainability Committee.

Education:

BGS, Eastern CT State University, Early Childhood Education

Occupation:

Retired; preschool teacher and home visitor for 30 years.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

New London Board of Education (2009-11); Planning and Zoning Commission (2014-present)

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

Extreme income inequality: We face many pressing issues, but the high poverty rate, low home ownership rate, history of segregation and unequal representation make it harder for us to find solutions that work for everyone. I would like to offer child care at City Council and Board of Education meetings to increase participation; increase shared programming between the schools and the community; hire, to the greatest extent possible, city employees who reflect the diversity of city residents. Only by working together can we adapt to a future that will be impacted by climate change, sea level rise, diminishing fossil fuels, limited options for solid waste disposal, increased need for safety net services, and the high cost of running the city.

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

My passion and volunteer activity related to land use and economic development are perhaps the things that most set me apart from other candidates. Through my involvement with local nonprofit organizations - such as Riverside Park Conservancy, Thames Valley Sustainable Connections, and SECT Community Land Trust - I have become familiar with the functioning of several city departments and and worked productively with their staff members. I believe that my approach is uniquely down-to-earth: that we should humbly observe where people struggle and take modest steps, as quickly as possible, to address the struggle; when we make conditions better for all New Londoners, we will find our city a more attractive place for out-of-towners to visit, move and invest here, as well.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

• Develop a fairer tax code that encourages home improvement, promotes infill development, and respects longtime residents.
• Invest in roads, sidewalks, and street trees to improve safety and walkability.
• Ensure representation of all residents and neighborhoods in decision-making.
• Preserve our historic buildings and streetscapes while encouraging creative reuse and affordable home ownership.
• Make sure all city-owned properties are well maintained and provide recreational, educational, economic, or environmental benefit.
• Support NL Public Schools by providing adequate funding and establishing a non-lapsing fund for building maintenance.

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

As a Planning and Zoning Commissioner, I actively participated in the 2017 update of New London's Plan of Conservation and Development, which provided me with a good understanding of the city's development goals for the next decade. I work well with individuals regardless of party affiliation to accomplish shared goals, as in 2011, when a diverse group of citizens saved Riverside Park from sale to the US Coast Guard Academy and subsequently formed a nonprofit organization to implement improvements to the park. I was treasurer of the Friends of Riverside PAC, as treasurer of the Riverside Park Conservancy, I have written grants, initiated the community garden, maintained communication with city staff, and (most enjoyably) engaged in restoring the native landscape with pollinator plants.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

Not specifically directed at me, but the general advice that's stuck with me over the years is to be "more serious and less solemn." We do a better job at everything when there is joy in the endeavor.

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

The Green Party operates differently from other political parties; though we definitely run serious campaigns, we have set for ourselves more stringent rules than SEEC's for contributions and do not accept any money from PACs or lobbyists. As a result, our candidates are accountable only to the residents of New London and not beholden to any special interests.

Are you running for office in New London? Contact Ellyn Santiago at ellyn.santiago@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to New London Patch.