Patch Candidate Profile: Arthur Newberg, Derby Board Of Aldermen

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

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

Democrat Arthur Newberg, 21, is a Derby resident running for the Board of Aldermen and Alderwomen in the First Ward.

Education

Currently a Senior at the University of Connecticut double-majoring in Political Science and Urban and Community Studies, and taking graduate level coursework for a Master's in Public Policy

What is your occupation?

Student

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

Son of Kathryn Newberg (53). Older brother to Cody (18) and Bryan Newberg (15).

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

No

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?

The issues Derby faces today are the same as it faced six years ago when I first started paying attention to politics. Lack of economic development and financial instability are still our city's two most daunting challenges. I am running to serve my community and I hope to apply what I have learned from my higher education to help address these issues and restore the image of Derby to its former greatness.

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

Financial instability and negligence is an issue that exacerbates all of Derby's other issues. Financial mistakes are a recurring issue for Derby, and these mistakes have increased tax burdens on residents, limited the amount of support our schools could receive, and deter developers from doing business in Derby. Having accountable leadership is important, but we need to have financial stability regardless of who is in charge. I believe we should form a charter revision committee to update the City Charter and REQUIRE City Hall to report financial documents to the public. Making sure that our leaders cannot hide behind closed doors is a good way to ensure that they prioritize our City's financial stability both in the immediate and distant future.

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

I am 21 years old, was born and raised in Derby, and for the entirety of my life, there has been nothing on the south side of Main Street that sparks pride. The lack of economic development, and the subsequent effects that have on Derby's morale, have motivated me to pursue an education and a career where I can understand issues that our society and cities face and work to implement policies to solve them. I hope to dedicate my life to public service and if elected I hope to have meaningful, policy-based conversations on how we can inspire growth in our City.

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

I worked as a legislative intern at the Connecticut General Assembly during the previous legislative session. There, I learned so much about the state legislative process and about the issues that Connecticut is facing. The role helped me develop the ability to think critically about these issues and reinforced my belief that government policy has the ability to increase the quality of life of its citizens.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

We only ever get to live this moment once, so you gotta make the most of it.