Oxford First Selectman George Temple Decides Political Future

Written by Oxford First Selectman George R. Temple,

I have been giving serious consideration to my future as Oxford First Selectman. If I am to run for a fifth term it is important to decide as soon as possible. After consulting with my wife, we have decided that I should and will run for another term.

I am proud of the direction that Oxford has taken in the past seven plus years. Our town has been featured in the Sunday edition of all three major Connecticut newspapers regarding our economic development. Our mill rate is one point lower than when I took office in 2011.

We have many new recreational facilities and a new library. We are in the process of building a new middle school and providing for a new Police headquarters and Board of Education headquarters in the old Center School. We have retooled the Public Works department and provided new trucks to replace the unsafe antiques that were the cornerstone of our operation.

We have bought fire trucks, ambulances and police cars. All without adding to our municipal debt.

Over the past seven plus years we have had happy times and sad times. We have enjoyed the beauty of our town and have had to combat life threatening emergencies. I have always been there for the town.

There are significant challenges ahead. We are constructing a school and must renovate another one. I have had experience in projects of this magnitude and I am intimately acquainted with our middle school projects. The vicissitudes of state finances and taxation will require an experienced and steady hand to steer Oxford through this financial maze.

I believe I am very well equipped to provide Oxford with the leadership required in these uncertain times. I therefore declare my candidacy for re- election in November.