Ridgefield Candidate Profile: David Ulmer For Board of Finance

RIDGEFIELD, CT — The 2019 municipal election is heating up in Ridgefield and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Ridgefield Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Democrat David Ulmer, 71, is running for re-election to the Board of Finance.

Ulmer is retired after a 35-year career in airline planning; he was the co-founder and vice-president of planning for JetBlue Airways. He earned a BA from Bradley University and an MBA from the University of Denver.

The single most pressing issue facing our town/district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Fortunately, Ridgefield does not currently face any significant financial issues. The Board of Finance reviews proposed town and school budgets and, without respect to line items, presents budget amounts to voters in the May Referenda. Since I have been Chair of the Board, all Referenda have been approved by Ridgefield voters. Our tax collection rates are healthy, we have an aggressive long-term debt management (pay-down) program, and we have a sufficient “rainy
day” fund to confront any economic downturn. Thus, Ridgefield has maintained our AAA bond rating. As over the past eight years under my leadership as Chair of the BOF, a Democratic majority on the Board will continue to implement responsible fiscal policies which provide
minimal tax increases and maximum value to the citizens of Ridgefield.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

In addition to those mentioned above, Ridgefield does need to continue to improve its infrastructure with respect to its Sewage Plant, Schools, Police/Fire facilities, and Town buildings. The Board of Finance makes the final decision, on recommendations approved by the Board of Selectmen (with the exception of petitioned items), on capital projects to be sent to the voters. Again, all of those have been approved at Referenda.

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

In my 16 years on the Board of Finance, I have always studied issues, listened to public input, and made responsible decisions. Our close monitoring of budgets has kept spending increases to a minimum while still providing excellent services and low property tax increases to all taxpayers, particularly after the 2008-2009 recession. I have insisted that current expenses be paid from current revenues and that only valid projects, which will be utilized in the long term by future Ridgefielders, be capitalized and bonded, thus legitimately incurring additional interest expense over time. I have worked collaboratively and transparently with all Board Members and citizens, and will continue to do so.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Someone once told me that if you make a mistake in business, as we all do, don’t make excuses. Just tell your boss (without a long explanation) that you know what happened, that it won’t occur
again, and move on. Also, from David Neeleman, whom I helped to found and grow JetBlue Airways; the moral of a long story that ends with the words “I don’t like chocolate cake”. In business (but also apropos to good town governance), it is not important what you want or like, it is most important what YOUR CUSTOMERS want and like.