Patch Candidate Profile: Chris Gardner, Newtown Legislative Council

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.

Director of Communications, Yale School of Medicine, Chris Gardner, 52, is running for re-election to the Newtown Legislative Council representing District 1, as a Democrat. He holds a B.A. in English Writing from St. Lawrence University.

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

Wife, Kathleen; Children Andrew, 22, and Caroline, 18

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

Newtown Legislative Council since 2021; Newtown Board of Finance, 2019-2021; Borough of Newtown Board of Burgesses since 2013; Senior Burgess, Borough of Newtown since 2020

Why are you seeking this office?

I am a lifelong Newtown resident and am deeply invested in ensuring that Newtown remains an affordable place to live and work. During my tenures on the Board of Finance and Legislative Council I have worked with many others to maintain a stable tax rate while still investing in our schools and infrastructure, including roads, technology, and public buildings. This has taken creative thinking, discipline, and careful long-term planning. I bring experience, energy, and institutional knowledge of Newtown having lived here my entire life. Experience matters, and I want to continue to offer my service to our great community.

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

Newtown faces many critical issues (managing development, maintaining strong schools, planning the development of Fairfield Hills, preserving our environment and landscape, and keeping the community safe) but of vital importance to the Legislative Council is maintaining affordability for all residents while keeping up our infrastructure. This is not an easy task and in my experience it requires disciplined spending, transparency, the willingness to listen, and the ability to collaborate with fellow elected officials regardless of political affiliation. Long-term planning remains vital. We have a reliable system of forecasting our expenses and we must continue to be disciplined to avoid unnecessary spikes in our mil rate.

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

My experience serving in municipal government and my ability to listen and consider everyone’s opinion before I form my own. There have been times in my years serving the Town and Borough of Newtown that I have disagreed with people, but I always respect that person’s viewpoint. We all want what’s best for Newtown, and collaboration and compromise are keys to getting there. That’s how things get done. This election is about Newtown, nothing else.

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

The incumbent Republicans running for re-election (there is one in my district) have not failed our community. They are volunteers like me who have a vision for our town and work hard to represent their constituents. We have had disagreements over some issues and I have stood my ground as a member of the minority party. I always vote my conscience and how I think my constituents would be best served. I intend to continue to do that if I am re-elected.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Issues of concern to me that normally do not appear on Legislative Council agendas include management of our residential and commercial growth, public safety, and keeping Newtown an open, welcoming, and respectful community where all people feel like they belong.

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

My years of experience serving on the Board of Finance, Legislative Council, and Borough of Newtown Board of Burgesses. Professionally I was a journalist for 20 years covering municipal governments for a major Connecticut daily newspaper. I witnessed many examples of good and bad government, and was twice honored by New England's largest press association for uncovering wasteful spending in municipal government. I enjoy scrutinizing budgets and finding ways to be more efficient while finding value in the services we offer our taxpayers. I prefer to limit borrowing and pay as we go, a trend that is underway in Newtown and should absolutely continue.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Listen before you speak.

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

I am a moderate Democrat who finds great value in collaboration and working toward a consensus. That's how things get accomplished.