Newtown Candidate Profile: Neil Chaudhary For Police Commission

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.

Neil Chaudhary is running for Police Commission as a Republican. He is the CEO and owner of Preusser Research Group, where he primarily researches injury prevention on roadways on behalf of federal and state governments.

He has been on the Legislative council for five years and was vice chairman for two years. He also sat on several council committees and other committees on town. He is also a member of the town's Community Emergency Response Team.

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.

Newtown is my home. As a member of the police commission I will use my experience – from volunteering in town, as a former elected official, and as a professional – to better our public
safety environment. Our town is among the safest in the state and keeping it that was is my goal. But safety is not just defined in terms of crime; we need to maintain our safety on the roadways. I have worked with dozens of police agencies across the nation over the past 17 years to develop programs that reduce death and injury on our roadways. It would be a privilege to bring my expertise to Newtown on a regular basis. I have already had the privilege of working with our town for several projects funded by the State DOT including a recent project aimed at keeping Newtown's children safer at school bus stops.

For years I have served on Newtown's Public Safety Committee with our chief of police and first selectman, among others, keeping track of the happenings at Garner Prison and being a voice of the town. I hope to continue keeping the public informed on the endeavors of this committee and the prison as well as create an open, transparent dialog about the happenings in town related to public safety.

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

The police commission is the Traffic Authority for the town. It is the commission's duty to keep the public safe on Newtown's roadways. As one of the nation's leading traffic safety experts, I can provide input for the commission to discuss that whichfew others would be able to provide. I am on several safety committees for the State of Connecticut and a member or former member of several national committees under the National Academies of Science and Engineering's
Traffic Research Board. I have dozens of publications geared toward keeping motorists safe. I have helped guide state and national laws through research including CT’s teen driving regulations which data show has significantly reduced injuries and fatalities among our teen drivers.

I am also a former member (and vice chairman) of Newtown's Legislative Council. The experience I gained volunteering with the town can help guide our public safety budget to ensure that funding for our safety is at the level it should be.

I have worked with many of the police departments in Connecticut, including Newtown, and have been asked to present to law enforcement at meetings in Connecticut, nationally and internationally. I look forward to bringing this unique experience to our town.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

My "platform" is based on what I can bring to the table for the
benefit of Newtown. No politics, no negativity.

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

I think much of the answer to this question can be found in my answers above. In my 5 years on the Legislative Council I missed attending only about 3 meetings due to
unavoidable circumstances and had perfect attendance in my first 2 or 3 years of service. I pride myself on being prepared for meetings (both professionally and in my volunteer positions). I own a small business here in Connecticut and manage contracts with state, federal and private clients. I have worked with town officials on contract negotiations and have served as an active
member of the town ordinance committee drafting town ordinances.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

My father told me to ask questions even if you think they are silly questions. If you can ask an
ignorant question, you are ignorant once. If you fail to ask it, you are ignorant forever. I seek
understanding and am not afraid to expose a lack of knowledge by asking questions that fill in my knowledge gaps. We are all constantly learning and acknowledging what it is that I
don't know will help me better serve the public.

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

I have been actively involved in many Newtown organizations including the PTAs. My family has instilled a need in me to give back to community. I enjoy instilling this same ethic in my children.