Board Of Finance Candidate Q&A: John O'Brien

On November 8, 2011 Stonington will hold its municipal election. Stonington-Mystic Patch asked each candidate to answer a questionnaire to give residents information about his or her background. For additional election coverage visit

Name: John P. O’Brien

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Age: 67

Address: 195 River Road in Pawcatuck

Hometown: Born in Torrington, Conn.

Employment (if retired, when and from what): Currently employed by: Detotec North America, Inc.  Vice President, R&D

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry, College of the Holy Cross, 1966

MBA, Univ of Connecticut 1975, Specializing in accounting and finance

Incumbent? (if yes, first elected when): I have served two terms on Board of Finance, first elected in 1999.

Previous elected experience: Board of Finance, two terms

Civic experience (appointments, non-profits):  In Stonington, Served on Building Committee for Police Station and High School Renovation Project.

Top issue facing the town and your ideas for fixing it: Manage town spending to preserve our bond rating in the face of the recession and possible decrease in state aid. We have success in the past few years with delivering a proposed budget to taxpayers with a very modest increase. We need to stress cooperation with the unions representing town employees to minimize cost increases. 

Second issue:  We have been able to include in the past two town budgets improvements in town infrastructure. Several drainage and repaving projects have been undertaken. More needs to be done in this area.

Third issue: The school building committee studied various proposals to improve the elementary schools. All elementary schools are showing their age.  Improvements will need to be made when the economy improves.