Patch Candidate Profile: Chris Palmieri, Southington Town Council

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Southington Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Southington resident Chris Palmieri is running for the Southington Town Council as a Democrat.

The following is Palmieri's questionnaire sent to Patch:

Name

Chris Palmieri

How old will you be as of Election Day?

49

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://southingtondemocrats.o...

What city or town do you live in?

Southington

What office are you seeking?

Town Council

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here.

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democrat

Education

University of Rhode Island - Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a double major in marketing and management. Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Sacred Heart University and a Sixth Year Professional Certificate in School Administration from Sacred Heart University.

What is your occupation?

Principal of DePaolo Middle School for the past 4 years

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

Most of my family is also from Southington.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

Incumbent for Town Council currently. Previously elected to the Board of Water Commissioners and Library Board.

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 honored to seek re-election to the Town Council. I have always put the needs of residents first. I am proud of what has been accomplished during my time on the Council, but feel there is still work that needs to be done, especially related to public safety, education, and fiscal responsibility.

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 balancing the municipal services we provide to them while making them affordable for our residents. I intend to be transparent with needs versus wants, pass fiscally responsible budgets, and monitor services provided.

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

I am truly vested in our community and regularly volunteer for numerous organizations. I am willing to work collaboratively with others in a bipartisan way. I will continue to listen to all residents and use my knowledge and experience to handle all issues as they arise.

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

I am an incumbent myself but feel that there needs to be changes in the leadership of the Council.

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

Public safety, education and fiscal responsibility are some top priorities. Maintaining our infrastructure is critical, but we have to be careful not to overburden our taxpayers.

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

I hold myself to high standards and I realize the importance of being dedicated, open, honest, inclusive, respectful and compassionate for others. I advocate for what is in the best interest of our entire community.

I currently serve on the Public Works Committee, Open Space Committee, Economic Strike Committee, and the Ordinance Review Committee. I also previously served as the Chairman of the Town Council. I am especially proud of my years as Chairman where I led in a bipartisan manner, invested in infrastructure, addressed many services for our residents including public safety, and created a property tax review committee to explore options to assist residents on a fixed income.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Be appreciative of what you have and pay it forward.

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

I am extremely proud to serve as an educator in our community. I am actively involved in our annual Apple Harvest Festival and numerous civic organizations. I previously served as the vice chairman of the Public Building Committee for Kennedy and DePaolo Middle Schools, was co-chair of Southington’s Farm Heritage Committee, and was Chairman of the Committee of the Chairs which was a collaboration between the Town Council, Board of Education, Board of Finance, and the Planning and Zoning Commission. Other past committees include being a member of the Sewer Infrastructure Committee, the Bradley Memorial Hospital Advisory Committee, the Southington Public Library long range committee, the tax relief committee, the Bread for Life review committee, and the Southington Enterprise Zone & Economic Development (SEED) Committee.