Patch Candidate Profile: John Zachos, 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.

North American Demand Planning Lead John Zachos, 61, is running for election to the Legislative Council, District 3, as a Republican. He holds an AAS in business administration from SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill. He is married to Ann, and the couple has had two children.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

None

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

No

Why are you seeking this office?

Many families in Newtown, like elsewhere in the country, are facing higher food and energy prices and a higher cost of home ownership in the form of house prices, increased mortgage interest rates and taxes all of which have caused our residents to struggle with making ends meet. As a community we are stronger if we can keep our children and seniors from moving away to towns or states with a lower cost of living.

The kindness Newtown has shown to me, and my family has been overwhelming, and I wish to give back performing public service and therefore have decided to run for the Legislative Council representing District 3.

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

Affordability. If elected to the Legislative Council for District 3, I will be a fiscally responsible steward of your tax dollars, ensuring that the goods and services that we procure as a town are both necessary and at the lowest cost without sacrificing the quality of the services we provide, our children’s education, the town infrastructure, or the safety of our residents. Additionally, working to grow our tax base using available resources such as Fairfield Hills while not sacrificing Newtown’s beauty and charm.

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

Having worked in Supply Chain Operations for over 35 years which is a is non-revenue generating function but rather one of cost savings one of the roles I was tasked with contracting services such as domestic transportation, ocean freight and manufacturing sourcing. Working within a budget I had to negotiate these services taking into consideration quality and cost. I believe I can provide that same service to Newtown.

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

I will not say that someone failed but I believe with my experience I will be very critical of the budgets and spending to ensure our spend is for essential services or what we procure is at the best possible cost without sacrificing the quality of our services. I will ask questions and do my due diligence and not just be a rubber stamp.

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

Increasing the commercial tax base of Newtown smartly ensuring that the infrastructure can support it but also without adding congestion to our roads and without sacrificing the beauty and charm of Newtown. We have an existing resource in Fairfield Hills that is well underutilized and has the space and existing accommodations to attract businesses. Additionally, there could be opportunities for affordable housing but must be vetted to ensure that the existing infrastructure (sewers, water etc.) can support or be made to support.

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

I helped grow a $200 million company into $3 billion annually. Working in Supply Chain Logistics I personally built a Center of Competency in North America for their Demand Planning organization which did not exist, and it was Best in Class across our global organization. This included developing forecast systems, inventory management tools, key performance indicators as well as working with our factories to create efficiencies in shipping products globally efficiently and at a lower cost per unit. I negotiated common carrier contracts with domestic trucking and rail companies as well as ocean freight carriers. With these skills I will be a fiscally responsible steward of Newtown's tax dollars, ensuring that the goods and services that we procure as a town are both necessary and at the lowest cost without sacrificing the quality of the services we provide, our children’s education, the town infrastructure, or the safety of our residents.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Above all that your family will be the most important thing in your life and never let anything sacrifice your time with them

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

Regardless of my political affiliation the sole focus of my role is to serve ALL of the residents of Newtown and not national politics.