Stratford Election 2023: Christopher Green Running For Town Council

STRATFORD, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Stratford with plenty of races on the ballot.

Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 7 and cast their ballots for seats on the Town Council, Board of Education, Planning and Zoning and more.

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

Christopher Green, 37, is running for election to the Stratford Town Council as a Democrat.

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://stratforddemocrats.com...

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here.

District 2

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democrat

Education.

BA in Social Sciences from Harvard University

What is your occupation?

I’ve spent the last 12 years as a teacher, principal, regional manager and consultant in afterschool math enrichment.

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

My wife Amanda is a teacher. My daughter Francesca is a year and a half old.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

Currently an appointed member of Stratford's Greenway and Complete Streets Committee

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?

I’m running for this office because local government matters and I would be effective in the role. Stratford residents deserve qualified passionate hardworking representatives who will advocate for them, keep them informed and work with all parties involved on solutions that work now and into the future.

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

Making sure Stratford has a path towards a future as a prosperous, affordable, diverse community. I want to ensure our plans for budgeting, zoning and growth forge a sustainable path for both the short and long term. Stratford needs to adapt to keep up with the evolving needs of its residents and to meet the fiscal and environmental challenges ahead. All departments and services should be structured to maximize impact and quality while minimizing taxpayer cost. I hope, as with the impending automation of our garbage trucks, we can find ways to leverage technology, not to cut jobs, but as a means to redirect our limited personnel resources to other areas of need. I think working to keep residents more informed about the key decisions of local government in a more proactive way will also help to ensure productive and effective governance that aligns with the interest of Stratford residents.

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

I do not have any issues with my opponent. He seems like a respected member of the community who is interested in public service. I do take issue with the local party that he is associated with. Too often Stratford Republicans “follow the leader” spewing the same handful of skewed talking points handed down to them, ignore the opinions presented by residents, and vote as a block as instructed. It is telling that Stratford Democrats want to be on Team Stratford while Stratford Republicans are “Team Laura.” Town Councilors should represent the people of their district, not the leaders of their party.

Stratford Republicans created and approved the redistricting plan that, without any justification or negotiation, made current District 2 councilwoman Kaitlyn Shake unable to run again in a district that twice elected her. This is a disenfranchisement of the voters of our district- their ability to continue on with their preferred representative has been taken from them by partisan machinations.

Stratford Republicans were also the ones who approved the planned sale of the Center School property that intends to develop the site into over 100 residential units. This passed against the will of the residents of our district and all 4 current Democrats on the Council who have serious concerns for parking and traffic in the area.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way do you believe the current officeholder has failed the community?

The incumbent, fellow Democrat, Kaitlyn Shake, has done an admirable job in her role as a tireless advocate for her community- I hope to follow in her footsteps. She is unable to run in this district due to the previously mentioned Republican redistricting plan. We should not ever move an incumbent eligible for reelection out of the district that selected them without their consent. I hope the next council will take this specific issue up and amend the ordinance on redistricting to specifically disallow such behavior in the future.

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

Affordability overall and effective public schools are crucial to a thriving community as previously mentioned, but I also hope we can do more to ensure the town is prepared for climate change and sea level rise and also make the town safe and accessible to cyclists and pedestrians.

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

I’ve founded and grown two afterschool enrichment centers to serve over 2000 students each week, by building a team of over 30 teachers and staff and carefully managed a multimillion dollar budget. I am comfortable working collaboratively and strategically on the big picture, but I also love to get my hands dirty and work directly within the community. I regularly attend Longbrook Park and Housatonic River cleanups and volunteer weekly with the Sterling House Pantry in addition to my service with the Rotary and Stratford YMCA Board of Managers. Between this campaign and my run for State Senate last year, I’ve also knocked on over 10,000 doors in Stratford and surrounding communities as I view direct feedback and interaction with residents to be a huge part of being an effective public servant.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

“Legacy. What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.” Hamilton

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

I’m grateful to all the residents who share their concerns and visions for the town with me throughout this campaign and especially to those who’ve graciously offered their support.

Are you running for office in Stratford? Email vincent.salzo@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile on Stratford Patch.