Candidate Profile: Armel Romeo Kouassi, Edmond Hall Board Of Managers

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

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

Armel Romeo Kouassi is running for re-election to the Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers as a Republican.

Education.

MBA Finance Wharton School University of Pennsylvania

What is your occupation?

I am a senior banker with almost 20 years of global financial management experience across
Africa, Europe, and the US. I am currently Senior Vice President for Northern Trust
Corporations, a global provider of wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and
banking to corporations. I serve on the board of local organizations focusing on youth
empowerment, leadership development and arts & cultures.

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

My wife, Valerie, and I have three girls. Matiya, age 15 in Newtown High School, Alexiane age
12 in Newtown Middle School. Both are talented violinists, members of the Western Connecticut
Youth Orchestra and member of a local cross-country team. Camille, our 8-year old is in 3rd Grade in Hawley School, she splits time between violin, piano, and learning swimming & tennis. The three girls are in the Newtown school system.

Valerie and I are actively engaged in the community we love. Valerie is a Captain in the US
Army Reserve as well as a dentist and partner at Dental Associates of Connecticut office in Newtown.

Valerie supports and volunteers for local non-profits organizations: Young Life in Danbury, an organization helping young girls with babies, and “SOS Enfants”, which helps kids and orphans in Africa, USA and across the world.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

I am incumbent for the Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers

Why are you seeking this office?

Through Arts, Culture, and Community engagement, I hope to contribute to achieve financial sustainability of the Edmond Town Hall Theater, maintaining community cohesion by providing a top-notch community gathering place, and maintaining excellence in arts and education. During the last few years, we have successfully transformed Edmond Town Hall into a destination venue providing top-notch live events, cultural events, and community programming while improving the Theater financial viability.

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

Achieving financial viability, maintaining community cohesion, and maintaining excellence in arts and education are critical challenges ahead. With my inclusive leadership and arts connections, I will continue to support and help Edmond Town Hall and Arts Education globally. In keeping with Mary Elizabeth Hawley's legacy, I aim to make Edmond Town Hall a center of excellence for arts, theaters, etc. that is self-sustaining while maintaining its local charm.

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

My trademark is an inclusive leadership style: I aim to help Edmond Town Hall become a self-sustaining theater venue of excellence and a community gathering place that honors its benefactor, Ms. Mary Elizabeth Hawley. There is a great deal of rancor in the current national political climate. Many in Newtown and the surrounding area are searching for a venue
for bipartisanship, to find common ground, to find what unites us instead of dividing us. I am
proud of the work we have done at Edmond Town Hall. Every day, we offer a place where we
are forced to grapple with our preconceived notions of others, other cultures, and other beliefs
by embracing thought-provoking performances, culture, and arts work. I believe the arts and
culture participate to shape, build, and identify communities. As leader in the community, I have
the responsibility to push the arts and arts venue to be more innovative, inclusive and impactful.

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

I am the incumbent and proud of what we have accomplished: Modernized the Theater while keeping the traditional charm and the community feel.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Never forget to pay it forward.

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

I encourage you to vote: “The vote is precious. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it.” — John Lewis, late civil rights activist and member of the US House of Representatives for Georgia. I also encourage you to visit the Edmond Town Hall or attend one of the live events.