Patch Candidate Profile: Jennifer Clock, 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 Jennifer Clock is running for the Southington Town Council as a Republican.

The following is Clock's questionnaire sent to Patch:

Name

Jennifer Clock

How old will you be as of Election Day?

43

What city or town do you live in?

Southington

What office are you seeking?

Town Council

Please give us your party affiliation.

Republican

Education

ECSU Bachelor Degree - Political Science / Quinnipiac University - Masters of Business Administration

What is your occupation?

My current professional position is Executive Vice President at NEIS, Inc., a premium auditing vendor. I’ve been at NEIS, Inc. for 20 years, responsible for operations oversight of the company, which has given me extensive experience including strong leadership, decision-making, sales and logistical planning abilities.

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

My most important role is Mother to my 9-year-old son, who currently attends elementary school in town

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

Yes, I am a Planning and Zoning Commissioner for Southington

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?

It is very important to me that, together, we make responsible decisions while factoring in financial limitations. If given the opportunity to serve our community through the Town Council seat, my intentions will remain the same.

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

The most pressing issues we face as a town are rising costs and an inflationary environment. I intend to work with my fellow Republican teammates to continue strong financial discipline to achieve balanced budgets while delivering outstanding taxpayer services.

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

I approach issues and solutions with financial discipline. My record highlights that I've been a leader that can facilitate complex projects with diverse groups and I can work together with others to find solutions to problems.

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

We must support our first responders with new technology, infrastructure and staffing. In addition, we need to continue to focus on ways of supporting our senior citizens, disabled citizens and our veterans.

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

My record as a Planning and Zoning commissioner from 2012 to present holds the most weight. I've listened and acted in the most appropriate and law-abiding way I can while taking community feedback into consideration. Most notably from 2014-2016, I was appointed the chair of the Plan of Conservation and Development committee. Together with town staff, fellow residents, a third party firm and other town-elected colleagues, we developed this 10-year plan. The POCD has driven many major planning decisions in Southington since it was published in 2016. Since then, I've worked with our open space committee and historical society to help promote and preserve the character of our town.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Walk through life with your eyes open, your mind clear and your intentions true - My Mom

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

I am a Cuban-American female and take great pride in our community's diversity and unique attributes. My mother showed me by example that great value in life comes from giving back to your community. Both in her honor and to pass this example on to my own son, I look to continue to humbly serve our community. I want to express to my fellow residents how thankful I am to have this opportunity.