Norwalk Election 2021: Greg Burnett For Common Council

NORWALK, CT — Election Day is approaching fast, and a number of key positions in town 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 a few topics.

Democrat Greg Burnett, 62, is running for Common Council At-Large in Norwalk.

Occupation: Encore Fellowships Program Director

Experience: Common Council At-Large

Family in government: No

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

The greatest challenge facing our community is addressing the various needs of our diverse community while being able to offer access to affordable/accessible housing for all. We need to embrace and value our cross culturalism by ensuring responsible growth and economic development that addresses the needs of all our residents. Basic housing is essential to every person or family's well-being. As a city with a vast ethnic mosaic, it is essential that we provide a divergent housing portfolio that is affordable, accessible and meets the needs of all our residents regardless of their economic status.

Life is unpredictable and the people we serve need options. We must provide opportunities that enable young people the affordability to reside here as well as supporting our senior citizens so they can continue to reside in their homes that they have invested in for their whole lives. I will advocate for affordable housing opportunities and homeownership solutions. We have a great fortuity to enhance our intergenerational capacity and make Norwalk a welcoming and attractive city for all.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

The critical differences between myself and other candidates are my several years of experience in the professional and corporate environment along with my multitude of years of experience serving the public as an appointed and elected official. My years are comprised with over 35 years of technical and managerial experience in the corporate sector developing a skillset to appropriately develop budget decisions and create positive business solutions.

I was elected by the public vote to the Norwalk Board of Education where I successfully served a four-year term. I was appointed to the Norwalk Board of Health and to the Board of Estimate and Taxation (Appropriation Board) where I resided as Chairperson. I am currently seeking re-election to the Common Council. I currently serve as Chairperson of the Finance and Claims Committee and recently had the position of the Majority Leader on the Common Council.

In each of these positions I collaborated closely with other Board members and volunteers to ensure that the community of Norwalk continued to grow and offer an attractive environment for all its residents that focused on positive economic, educational, and a healthy way of living.

Accomplishments:

My greatest impact as an incumbent continues to be the relationships I have established in the community as an advocate for all residents of our city. As Chairperson for the Common Council Finance and Claims Committee I have recommended and supported smart fiscal management based on data-driven information while maintaining the city’s top tier AAA rating, passing a budget with no tax increases, and tax relief for our senior residents. I have also personally and consistently volunteered at vaccine clinics, flu clinics, and food distributions during the pandemic, which enabled me to be a visible role model to all our community members in an informal setting.

Other issues:

Education, Infrastructure/Mobility, Parks/Green Initiatives, Safe Neighborhoods.

I am a firm believer that education is ‘the great equalizer’, and everyone is entitled to a robust and equitable learning experience. Norwalk’s school system has made tremendous strides continuing to receive the top rating among peer districts with several of our schools receiving Blue Ribbon recognition. However, to enable our student population to be well-rounded learners who will be fully equipped for their eventual launch into an increasingly competitive world, we must continue to make crucial investments in school infrastructure improvements, new school construction, and delivery of instruction, to ensure that each student possess the tools and knowledge necessary for their success in the world and workforce of the future.

Norwalk is a growing city and with that comes the necessity for continual investments whether it is road-repair, overhauling the composition and coordination of traffic signals to better maintain the flow of traffic, or improving the transit system, such as local buses, that many of city’s residents rely on. Investing in infrastructure/transportation/mobility is crucial because of the direct impact these have on our day to day lives.

Robust, accessible parks are a vital component of a healthy and stable community. These outlets have been an integral part of the community especially during a pandemic when the lives of many have been altered and people are looking for a safe, open space to reconnect with each other. I am proud to have been a part of a coalition of individuals that have banded together to acquire additional recreational funds and resources for the parks and programs within our city.

I will continue to support and provide our police department and fire department with the tools and resources necessary for these departments to continue to be proactive so they may provide the protection for safety in all our neighborhoods.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I am thoroughly invested in our community of Norwalk as I have called this amazing city my home for over twenty-seven years and have actively been committed to serving the population of Norwalk each day to create a positive and impactful difference. I am honored to have earned the endorsement of the Norwalk Democratic Town Committee and the Working Families Party. This support confirms my unwavering commitment, common sense thinking, and razor-sharp focus to ensure that residents of Norwalk will have a community that they will be proud to call home. Running for public office is a challenge that takes energy, enthusiasm, and grit.

I have embraced this challenge and I am excited to run for re-election for the Norwalk Common Council At-Large seat. I have greatly appreciated your endorsements in the past, and with your sustaining support I will be honored and humbled to serve our great city once again.