Stratford Candidate Profile: Bill O'Brien For Town Council

STRATFORD, CT — The 2019 municipal election is heating up in Stratford and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Stratford Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Bill O'Brien is running for the Town Council's Ninth District as a Republican. O'Brien has 25 years of experience as the senior athletics and facilities director for the Sterling House Community Center and is the current Ninth District council member.

Are you running for office in Stratford? Contact Anna Bybee-Schier at anna.bybee-schier@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Stratford Patch.

Candidate responses appear as they were received and have not been edited by Patch staff.

The single most pressing issue facing our town/district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Taxes: I intend to continue the pattern of the past two town budgets and reduce the mill rate by working closely with the administration and other elected officials.

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

I am unopposed.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

Continue efforts to make Stratford as beautiful and welcoming as possible. Also work closely with the Mayor and her staff to reduce energy costs. Work with respect and a positive attitude with the administration and all elected officials.

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

Our teamwork during my first term on the council have been positive and progressive. As the former Chairman of the Stratford Recycling Committee, as Chairman and a longtime member of the Parks & Recreation Committee, current Chairman of the Board of Education Liaison Committee, and as a member of many other organizations, I have gained much knowledge about town operations. I have also built a rapport with many community members by treating people with respect and compassion. With this framework, my first term has been a pleasure as we are making much progress in so many areas. The best is yet to come, if we keep this great team together!

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Listen! By listening to the concerns of others and not being defensive, many issues work themselves out.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

It truly has been a pleasure serving and volunteering to make Stratford the best it can be. I look forward to another two years of growth and improvements. I always try to help my constituents with their problems. Some have had positive results. Others, we do the best that we can to resolve. If I had unlimited funds to spend, my priorities would be to take care of all the tree issues and to improve our athletic fields.