Get to Know Your Democratic Endorsed Tolland Town Council Slate

With municipal elections right around the corner—Tuesday, November 7—we'd like to give Tolland residents another opportunity to become familiar with their candidates running for Town Council. As the slate of Democratic endorsed candidates for Town Council—Jennifer Buckler, Merry C Garrett, Chris Moran, incumbents Katie Murray, and Colleen Yudichak—we are proud to run on a platform of ensuring Tolland makes smart, data driven investments in our public schools, public safety, conservation, and public works to set our town up for long-term success. Our slate is made up of parents, homeowners, a retired corporate executive, a healthcare worker, lawyers, state employees, and experienced town volunteers. We have both Democratic and Unaffiliated candidates. We are your neighbors and friends and want what's best for all residents of Tolland.

We look forward to building on the significant progress the current Town Council has made under democratic leadership. The current Town Council purchased essential town equipment with federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which eliminated more than $1 million in borrowing and resulted in savings to taxpayers. The Council also purchased a gently used ambulance using ARPA and the ambulance fund, adding zero dollars to the town's long-term debt. Utilizing ARPA funds, the Town Council also offered a 50% discount to town residents for recreation activities, such as fitness classes, sports, and camps.

The current Town Council updated the Tolland Green use policy, which allowed the town to host over 70 events on the Green in the past 18 months. The Town Council also hired life-long resident Brian Foley as our new Town Manager. Mr. Foley brings public safety and public service experience, leadership, knowledge, and dedication to our community. All these achievements were made with bipartisan support. We will continue to work collaboratively with all members of the Town Council, regardless of political affiliation.

There remain important challenges facing our residents. Considering the recent street takeover, car break-ins, and hate incidents, public safety continues to be a top priority for our residents. We will work with Brian Foley, who has an extensive law enforcement background, and our dedicated Resident State Troopers to ensure law enforcement has emergency response plans in place and the support it needs to ensure all members of our community are safe. Additionally, contaminated wells continue to plague our neighbors. Everyone is entitled to safe drinking water. We will continue to work with the water safety engineering firm hired by the current Town Council to determine the causes of the contaminated wells and determine actions we can take to address the problem.

With these priorities in mind, the Town Council must be mindful of the financial impact its decisions have on all residents. As homeowners, we understand property taxes have a significant impact on the finances of working families like ours. Seniors, who are often living on fixed incomes, must feel confident they will be able to remain in their homes for as long as they wish, and not find themselves in a position where they cannot afford to live in Tolland. To this end, under Democratic leadership, the current Town Council simplified and broadened the property tax relief program for seniors and people with disabilities. Moreover, to ensure residents of our town do not shoulder the entire tax burden of high-quality community resources, we will strive to encourage the development of appropriately zoned businesses.

Tollands' historic charm, amazing parks, open spaces, and proximity to the I-84 corridor make it the perfect place to live and raise a family. By making smart, data driven investments in our public schools, public safety, and public works to encourage the development of appropriately zoned businesses, we can ensure Tollands' future is bright and continues to attract new residents. We will bring our commitment, experience, integrity, and promise to work hard for every resident because "Tolland Is Worth It." We hope to earn your vote on November 7th - Row A.