Stamford Election 2021 Profile: Eric Morson For Board Of Reps.

STAMFORD, CT — Election Day on Nov. 2 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot in Stamford.

Patch reached out to candidates for local office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the city.

Democrat Eric Morson, 53, is running for Board of Representatives in Stamford, District 13.

Occupation: Financial Advisor & Tax Advisor

Family: Wife Michele, son Cameron (20), & daughter Callie (16)

Experience: Board of Representatives, Stamford EMS Board of Directors, CERT, Area 9 Cable Council, Justice of the Peace

Family in government: No

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

Education and School Facilities:

Clearly, our school infrastructure requires urgent attention. The ongoing mold crisis and aging facilities are in critical need of careful long-term financial plans that afford our students and staff a safe, healthy, and technologically up to date environment in which to thrive. Neighborhood schools are an integral part of the fabric of our city, and they need to remain the vibrant part of our communities that they are. We must also address the achievement gap, making sure every student has the same opportunities to succeed.

I will work with the Board of Education and the Administration to ensure financially sound plans that brings our schools to the level we deserve, academically, physically, and with unparalleled safety.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

My running mate Amiel Goldberg and I both have decades-long professional financial backgrounds. Understanding the scope of our City’s budget, government borrowing, and spending on massive capital projects along with my service on the Fiscal Committee, all bring experience to the table that our opponent does not have.

The City must find a way to acquire and spend hundreds of millions of dollars on our schools during the next few years. Amiel is a Treasury Executive and former Chief Risk Officer, and I am a Financial Advisor, Tax Advisor, and small business owner. We bring the experience and solid financial backgrounds that are vital to the conversation.

-- This is a clear and critical difference that distinguishes us in this race.

Amiel and I are homeowners, and have each sent two children through the Stamford Public Schools. Through these experiences we have a deep understanding of being rooted in the community, what to listen for, and how to advocate for it. We know the difficulty that rising property taxes present to families, especially those on fixed incomes, and we know there is waste that can be addressed. Our opponent does not have these perspectives.

Accomplishments:

I have worked from home since 1993 balancing two professional practices, serving as Board of Trustees Chair of a non-profit organization, a DJ on the side, and raising two wonderful children. I have demonstrated my ability to succeed in all these endeavors and be a highly effective City Representative through effective time management and a lifelong commitment to excellence in service of others.

Other issues:

As Vice Chair of the Public Safety & Health Committee, a member of the Stamford EMS Board of Directors, and a member of CERT, I am dedicated to the health, safety, & welfare of this City. Particularly in Districts 13, 19, & 20, the increased number of car break-ins must be addressed more effectively.

We will continue to hold regular community town hall meetings, fight for open and transparent government, oppose unnecessary property taxes, require faster and more complete responses from utility companies, and insist on better maintenance of our roads and bridges.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I am a moderate, a centrist. I firmly believe this balance well serves the greater community that we all share. I have and will continue to work with anyone, regardless of party affiliation, for the betterment of our neighborhoods and our City. My approach is always in search of facts and perspectives that best suit the task at hand, while working toward compromise. I am known to be a voice that brings people together and cuts through the noise when clarity is needed, and I intend to bring greater balance to the conversation.

Thank you for your support, and for taking the time to read about me and other candidates for office. I hope I have earned your support for re-election in service of District 13 and the City we love.