Stratford Election 2023: Kaitlyn Shake 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.

Kaitlyn Shake, 39, is running for re-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 7

Education.

I earned a second Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Fairfield University and a Bachelor of General Studies / Biological Sciences degree from UCONN with a double Minor in Sociology and Women’s Studies. My pursuit of Nursing first began at Housatonic Community College, where I completed an Associate Degree in Math/Science.

What is your occupation?

Registered Nurse

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

My family resides in Stratford.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

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

Currently in my second term as Stratford’s District 2 Councilwoman.

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 am seeking a third term on the Stratford Town Council to continue delivering results for our residents, regardless of their party affiliation, status or background.

I have accomplished a number of victories benefitting my district and all residents of Stratford by leading with integrity, compassion and accountability. I am committed to continue listening, responding and assisting our residents' concerns and ideas. I filed to run in my new home district, District 7, to continue building a Stratford where everyone can see their tax dollars hard at work. Over the past two terms, I have delivered for my district and all Stratford Residents.

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

The impending 2024 Board of Education fiscal cliff, taxes and debt. Stratford’s debt has ballooned 185% since 2017. I’ve worked hard to allocate funding to matters that won’t affect the mil rate, but there is a looming challenge ahead with how we handle debt as a town. In my third term, I will push leadership to establish a long-term debt consolidation plan for Stratford so that our taxpayers aren’t annually footing the bill. Without serious action, we will continue to be beholden to our debt with rising interest rates and inflation.

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

I am the District 7 Town Council candidate who is a proven effective leader. I have done more as the Council Minority Leader than we’ve seen in recent history and will continue that commitment in my third term on the Town Council. I have a strong reputation for centering the needs of residents over party by actively listening, advocating and being a champion for those who feel they don’t have a voice in Town Council chambers. I will continue to work tirelessly for my constituents and any Stratford resident who reaches out to me for help. I will always treat them with dignity and respect, regardless of party affiliation. I don’t ride other leaders’ coattails, and I am committed to my values and a Stratford where everyone can live a good life.

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

I made local election history by out-raising my opponent in 10 days for this bid in my new home district because Stratford residents know how committed I am to this community and can trust me to get the work done.

The next several years in Stratford will determine the next 40. I believe District 7 and residents across Stratford deserve better. We need leaders who don’t play into party politics and will serve everyone in their district equitably. For far too often, we have witnessed examples of leaders selling out our town to private interests, proposing mil rate hikes because our finances aren’t under control. These same leaders at the same time call for “civility”, yet blatantly behave and disrespect people and organizations with no accountability. I envision a Stratford where we can put residents first, instead of politics.

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

In my next term on the Town Council, I will work hard to ensure our schools, parks, and greenspaces have the resources they need and start to find a solution to our ballooning Town debt. The elephant in the room will be figuring out how to fund Stratford Public Schools during next year's budget process. While I was able to negotiate and deliver another 1 million dollars of our unused federal funding to the Board of Education this year, our town will have to deal with an 8 Million Dollar gap next fiscal year. This will require the Mayor’s Office, Town Council, Board of Education, and our Stratford-elected State representatives to work together to solidify additional state funding. When I am elected as the new District 7 Councilwoman, I am committed to continue working with all respected stakeholders to ensure our town gets the funding we need from Hartford in order to invest and support our most vital town investment: Stratford’s Public Education.

When we invest in our schools, we pave the way for the next generation of Stratford’s leaders. At the same time, when we have good schools, property values go up, and the community has a sustained vibrance. We need leaders who understand the symbiotic relationship between healthy schools and healthy communities.

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

I am committed to education. As Town Council Minority Leader, I worked across the aisle to deliver an additional $1 Million dollars in federal funding for Stratford Public Schools.

I am committed to our parks and green spaces. I helped deliver $350,000 in historical infrastructure improvements to Longbrook Park and High Park while protecting old-growth trees and $150,000 for the long overdue South End Flood Study.

I am committed to your safety. While working with Stratford Public Safety over the last several years, I advocated to ensure we had funding resources for additional safety cameras in high-traffic areas and worked with the Traffic Authority to address speeding concerns residents had in and out of my district.

I am committed to leading with integrity, being responsive, and continuing productive collaboration when serving residents so that YOU have a voice in your local government.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

“Everyone can make a difference. And everyone should try.”

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

Continuing on my third term as a Stratford Councilwoman, I will always be an open line of communication. I will work tirelessly for your issues to be resolved in the best way possible. I have done this over the past four years and will continue that commitment to our residents. I hope to earn your support and vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 7th, at Wilcoxson School.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email ShakeForSeven@gmail.com or call 475-298-1046.

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.