Newtown Election: Erica Sullivan For Board Of Finance

NEWTOWN, CT — Election Day is approaching fast, and a number of key positions in Newtown will be on the ballot.

To help readers make an informed decision on Nov. 2, Patch has reached out to local candidates to share their views on various topics of importance in town.

Patch will post these candidate profiles over the next several days, so check back often to see the latest.

Democrat Erica Sullivan, 49, is running for Newtown Board of Finance in Newtown.

Occupation: Owner/chocolatier Of Castle Hill Chocolate, Newtown, Ct

Family: Many around town know me as “The Chocolate Lady”. I am also the mom of two great kids, both of whom attend Newtown Public Schools, and have been married to my husband for 19 years.

Experience: Appointed to the Newtown Business Advisory Council in 2019

Family in government: No

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

When a community invests in inclusiveness and equitability, everyone prospers. While Newtown boasts a great school system and fantastic amenities, it is lacking in affordability for all, especially our seniors and young professionals. As a member of our Board of Finance, I will balance our shared vision for desirability with a commitment to affordability through proper planning and thoughtful spending strategies. I will support investing in more diverse housing options for residents, and who otherwise could not afford to stay in town.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I also believe that celebrating our differences leads to a more prosperous outcome. Like many of my fellow candidates, I am actively involved in our community and hope to serve in a larger, more impactful manner. Specifically, I am a parent who supports investing in our schools and in our educators, a steadfast social justice advocate who supports viewing every policy and decision through the lens of diversity and inclusion, and a leader of a well established thriving local business (Castle Hill Chocolate), where I practice fiscal responsibility in all aspects of my work.

Accomplishments:

As a leader of several successful businesses, I have developed consistent and successful strategies including; long-term planning for funding operating costs and employing qualitative based reasoning to measure growth and expansion opportunities. Case in point, my current business not only thrived in a global pandemic, through proper planning and execution, it has done so without the aid of outside funding, all while maintaining zero liability on the books. I am also adept at managing and balancing budgets with great attention to detail. Most importantly, I am successful at working with others toward a common goal, as I believe it truly takes a village. I am also a member of the Newtown Business Advisory Council, which has allowed me the opportunity to work with local business leaders, from all sectors, in a shared commitment to bolster and support our business community. The understanding of how to do this job is only as valuable as understanding why I want to do this job. Managing a business in the center of town offers me the unique opportunity to connect one-on-one with fellow residents on a daily basis. Fostering relationships with members of this community, learning more about what is important to them and sharing in the basic desire for a great place to live, and has become my why.

Other issues:

I fully support a conservative approach to spending through careful and thoughtful planning as opposed to arbitrarily slashing budgets. Our CIP requires more long-term budgeting and planning, from scheduled building maintenance to scheduled road repair. I also encourage economic development so we can lessen the dependence on residential property for tax revenue and support the business community as a whole. I strongly believe our seniors, families and young professionals should be able to afford to live in Newtown comfortably. As it is, we do not offer many affordable options. Finally, and I believe in investing in one another by committing to governing through the lens of inclusiveness and equitability. What’s good for some has to be good for all.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I encourage a team approach to town governance. Through collaboration within and across our boards and commissions, I believe we can build a strong consensus among all of our community leaders to do what is in the best interest of all of Newtown. If given the opportunity to serve our community, I would bring a new energy to the BOF, ready to tackle both enduring and new fiscal challenges that have the greatest impact on the health and wellbeing of our town. Newtown is a great place to call home, but we can do better. We can achieve a shared vision of desirability, affordability, and inclusiveness and prosperity. I would be honored to have your support and your vote to join our Board of Finance on November 2nd. I can be reached at sullivanbof21@gmail.com for more information about my campaign.