Patch Candidate Profile: Jalin Sead, Norwalk Common Council

NORWALK, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Norwalk and there are plenty of local races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Norwalk Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Jalin Sead, 31, a Democrat endorsed by the Working Families Party, is a Norwalk resident running for the Common Council in District A.

Education

I studied Criminal Justice at Norwalk Community College and Business St. Francis College.

What is your occupation?

I am currently the Sales Manager of Hocon Gas INC, and I have worked there for eight years.

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

I have two boys Jalin Jr.(5) and Adrian(2) with my wife Crystal.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

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

Yes, I am the current Chair of the First Taxing District of Norwalk, I am also the Chair of the Fair Housing Commission. I have also had the pleasure of being elected as Constable and Justice of the Peace for the great city of Norwalk.

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking office to help provide a voice for hard working people who have often times been overlooked. I am also running to help foster the diversity that we hold dear to us in Norwalk. I have been involved in civil service since I was 15, and have had the opportunity to gain experience working with my colleagues to solve challenging issues, and helping bring people together with focusing on common interests.

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

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is the raising cost of living which won't be solved solely by the common council or even the Mayor. However, what I attend to do is work with planning and zoning to get more from the developers. We should be leveraging our status as one of the best cities to live in the country, to get more funding for schools and community resources. Adding this source of funding will take away the burden placed solely on the tax payers.

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

The clear difference between me and the other candidate is I understand the challenges facing everyday Norwalkers, from all walks of life. I understand the frustration of congestion with traffic, and the reasons that people are angry at all of the development. But I also understand the need for housing and the hardworking people who are renters and want to live in Norwalk. I understand the need for smart growth that ensures we protect the neighborhoods that are full of one family homes, but also grow where it makes sense too.

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

I am proud to be running with an Incumbent, Nicol Ayers who I believe has been doing a wonderful job.

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

I intend to focus on building better relationships with the Board of Education, so that we can have a smoother budget cycle. I intend to work on green initiatives to help lower Norwalks impact on the environment. I intent to bring the great ideas of the people to the Council Chambers.

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

While working with the Fair Housing Commission we worked to make sure that new developments were fair and unbiased to all residents, we also worked to ensure that buildings were up to all codes making them accessible for the elderly and disabled.

At the First Taxing District, we are working on improving aging infrastructure, with minimum impact on rate payers.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

"Be community minded, and stay connected to the people" - Mr. Ernie Dumas

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

I'm here for the people, and I'm here to listen, support, and fight for you.