Newtown Candidate Profile: Ned Simpson For Board Of Finanace

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.

Ned Simpson is running for the Board of Finance as a Democrat. He is a retired healthcare executive and a current member of the Board of Finance.

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.

Finding a balance to keep, superior schools, model public safety programs, great recreational resources, robust cultural social and lifelong learning opportunities, solid infrastructure, high credit rating and taxes that accommodate new businesses and do not drive residents away. I support adhering to the Town's debt policy with clear and transparent financial processes to review budgets and Town finances.

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

Having not seen position statements from the Republican candidates I cannot comment. On the current Board of Finance, I am very pleased that political party differences are not a factor in our discussions or votes. It is all about what is good for Newtown

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

The Board of Finance is typically the second of three approvals, following the Board of Selectmen it can be easy to pass an item on to the Legislative Council. I have and will put in the
time and effort to thoroughly research each agenda item for substantive discussion at the Board of Finance. Where applicable, I push for setting targets and guidelines rather than reacting to a dollar amount presented for approval to avoid second-guessing or micromanaging the Board of Selectmen or Board of Education.

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

Starting from undergraduate and master's degrees in engineering from the University of Michigan, I had a successful career in health systems operations and quality improvement which included executive roles at three health systems. My later career evolved improving life sciences and supply chain systems integration. The culmination of a career which addressed healthcare cost, quality and access was a leading role in implementing New York's ACA marketplace: New York State of Health.

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

Improving operations without escalating cost is ingrained in my nature. This drives my interest in the Livable Community initiative. I hope this information leads to earning you trust and vote. For more information or to talk more about what I have and will do on the Newtown Board of Finance, please email me at Ned4Newtown@gmail.com or visit my Facebook page. Community Matters.