Patch Candidate Profile: Cris Balamaci, Shelton Board Of Aldermen

SHELTON, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Shelton 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.

Republican Cris Balamaci is a Shelton resident running for the Board of Aldermen in the Third Ward.

Education

B.S. degree from the University of Oklahoma’s College of Medicine Physician Associate program; am a Board Certified Physician Associate.

What is your occupation?

Healthcare Executive/V.P. of Risk Management.

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

n/a

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

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

Yes. Third Ward Alderwoman from 2017- present. Board of Apportionment and Taxation and former Chairwoman during 2015-2017.

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?

As a Veteran I have a strong sense of duty and service to the community. Military service provided me the opportunity to develop valuable leadership and organizational skills which have proven to be transferable to the role of Alderman. During my entire professional career I have been a problem-resolution team member with a high success rate. I desire to continue to serve and assist all constituents.

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

Sensible growth which is the key to our stability. We welcome all and by doing so our infrastructure must continue to reflect these fluctuations to ensure our community remains desirable and a safe place to reside or to visit. As an Alderman, I attend hearings to voice my concerns on issues that may negatively impact our great city and our residents who call Shelton home!

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

Inexperience and the philosophy of the Democratic Party which is more government involvement in citizens' everyday lives, taxation and overspending as has been demonstrated at the national and local levels of Democratic run cities. This would disrupt the fiscal stability that Shelton has experienced for many years, potentially making Shelton an unaffordable place to live. We all strive to make Shelton a great place to live, but one must be a reasonable leader to ensure we don’t become an unstable city, like many of our larger cities in Connecticut.

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

During Covid, as a VP, I was the key coordinator of 82,000 healthcare employees in the State of NY and implemented a program to ensure we addressed all the issues at hand with our healthcare workers as well as patients. I was recognized by the publication Risk and Insurance. I also received the Teddy Roosevelt award for a top-notch Risk Management program. Another rewarding challenge I had was when a former Chief Financial Officer recruited me to assist in a failing public sector Healthcare Corporation as a change agent. We addressed the issues at hand that were created by the former administration and made the organization profitable and a desirable place to work!

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Listen, be fair and consistent and tackle problems honestly and openly.

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

In my private-sector career, I have been successful in all positions; however my most rewarding position was serving in the Biomedical Science Corp in the USAF participating in the medical support team as a Commissioned Officer for the Space Shuttle launches.