Patch Candidate Profile: Julia Conlin​, Newtown Police Commission

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.

Attorney Julia Conlin, 48, is running for election to the Newtown Police Commission as a Democrat.

Education.

B.A., cum laude, College of the Holy Cross; J.D., Boston College Law School

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

We have lived in Newtown for close to 16 years.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

No

Why are you seeking this office?

To use my professional experience in order to give back to the community.

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

We in Newtown, like in the country at large, must foster respectful dialogue and collaboration in order to achieve what often are common goals. Through my past volunteer work, particularly as the advocacy chairperson at the Head O’Meadow PTA, I developed an appreciation for, and understanding of, the many volunteers who work together to contribute to our community in so many important ways. I would bring to bear that knowledge, as well as my professional experience, including my former work as a prosecutor and my current work in private practice, to address concerns of our community members and challenges facing our police department.

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

My professional experience both formerly as a prosecutor and currently in criminal defense gives me a uniquely balanced perspective.