Newtown Candidate Profile: Ben Toby For P&Z

NEWTOWN, CT — The 2019 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.

Ben Toby is running for Planning and Zoning Commission as a Democrat. His wife is an English teacher at Newtown High School and they have two children in college. He is the director of business development for Prism Energy Services and a registered professional engineer in Connecticut. He was appointed as an alternative member of the Planning and Zoning Commission in February 2018 and is now running as a regular member.

Are you running for office in Newtown? Contact Rich Scinto at rich.scinto@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Newtown Patch.

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

Maintaining the rural character of our town while keeping a vibrant local economy and a friendly atmosphere for long time residents and newcomers alike. Also, preserving open space and being mindful of natural habitat, land and water quality. I would vote for zoning regulations that favor local businesses, open space, and family farms, and which don't forget that plants and animals belong here too.

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

Other candidates love Newtown just like I do. If I had to pick one thing, I am probably a bit more skeptical of development for its own sake, and inclined to favor local business over chain stores. For example, I do not think we need any more drive through windows in Newtown.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

I think the P&Z has done a great job in the past of maintaining Newtown's character. What's needed now is strong vision to keep it special, and not be overrun by the wrong kind of development.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

I look forward to working with other members of the P&Z, town commissions, and the public not only to apply existing zoning regulations, but to plan for Newtown's future as well.

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

Steady contributions on P&Z over the past 18 months, career experience in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industry for 25 years, registered professional engineer certification, helped raise two great kids, and being an engaged citizen of Newtown for 16 years.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

"God made dirt, and dirt don't hurt." - Uncle Les

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

Our town is beautiful and unique and we need to care for it. Just as my family was welcomed by this community when we moved to Connecticut all the way from California in 2003, we need to keep ourselves open to change and new ideas in order to keep moving forward. Keeping those two forces in balance is what I aim to do in my contributions to P&Z.