Stratford Candidate Profile: Paul Tavaras 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.

Paul Tavaras is running for the Town Council's Third District as a Democrat. Tavaras has work experience with the U.S. Postal Service and in the emergency response field. He is the chair of the Board of Zoning Appeals.

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.

Our Town is getting too expensive to live in. The current and previous administration has raised taxes just about every year for the last ten years. There is no accountability, nor transparency. The current council has abolished public hearings. No one knows what decisions are being made about how our tax dollars are being spent, which dilutes democracy. The speeding and reckless drivers, are creating havoc on our streets with impunity, making public safety a pressing issue also. My intentions will be to replace the public hearing portion of the council meetings. I would also encourage, and welcome ALL residents to attend these hearings to voice their concerns, advice, problems and comments.

I will collaborate with my fellow council members in creating sensible projects and alternatives to alleviate the financial burdens which currently is disaffecting our families.

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

I have been a active participant in our town for many years. I'm currently Chairman of The Board of Zoning Appeals, where along with my colleagues help residents and businesses establish and expand their properties, which in turn increases much needed revenue to our town. My opponent only appears during election time, and is nonexistent in District 3. I have not been aware of what he has, or claims to accomplish.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

In addition to addressing the public safety hazard of speeders and reckless drivers, of which I would establish a rapport with our law enforcement/traffic safety division. We also have a tree problem that is causing havoc with home owners, some for years, that is further financially burdening them as they are very destructive. Many residents with this concern has fallen on deaf ears with this administration. Phone calls, emails, and letters go unanswered to those whose job it is to fix this problem. I have not only experienced this, but adding insult to injury, are the acrimonious attitudes of the department. There are also several streets that are in dire need of repaving/re-grading. Why the same streets (i.e.Everett) gets re-paved defies logic. District 3 is also underserved for economic development. I wish to help create and establish businesses in this district that would increase revenue and employment there. Collaboration with The Board of Education is vital, as that budget needs to be sensibly managed, along with some of the inane policies, such as busing needs to be changed. I wish to interconnect with all of the Town entities, to establish a cohesive unit so that programs, and policies get enacted smoothly.

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

I have been in leadership positions, throughout my careers. I was a Postal Manager from small stations to some of the largest installations in the state. Decisions of personnel placement, budget concerns, doling out orders, all on a daily basis. As a firefighter, I worked in unison with my fellow crew to save lives and property. I had developed my skill to work as a team, from the many years involved in athletics. My education in Mechanical Engineering has taught me to first analyze problems and then to incorporate the proper anecdote to solve it. In my current role on The BZA, I have found that listening has become an asset, especially before rendering decisions that affect lives.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

My late father always instilled in us to be leaders...and not followers. He imbedded in us to seek the facts, and not to be afraid to say no, to situations that were not ethical nor entailed contributing to someone's demise.

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

I am a life-long resident. All of my living has been in this district. What I call my "beloved SOUTH END". For far too long, and including this current administration it has been underrepresented. Called the "ghetto". "That's were all the crime is", "That's where THOSE people live", That's where the project people are", and other derogatory terms. NO MORE!!!

I will fight to eradicate those titles! When the Splash Playground was tabled, that was my proverbial last straw! Out Town is exclusive and not inclusive. My goal is to work with those who share the same sentiment. To begin the changes of many decades of ostracization, that has ingrained the justified feeling of indifference from Town Hall. It's past time to get started...I'm ready.