Patch Candidate Profile: Mark Block, Trumbull Board of Finance

TRUMBULL, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Trumbull and there are plenty of local races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

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

Republican Mark Block, 62, is a Trumbull resident running for the Board of Finance.

Education

MBA, Marketing; Dual BA, Political Science and Graphic Design.

What is your occupation?

Executive Director, Congregation Shir Shalom of Westchester and Fairfield Counties, 15 years experience.

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

Ann Block, wife, retired Trumbull Public Schools Social Worker, membership Chair Greater Bridgeport Retired Teachers Association; Emily Block, daughter, Managing Director, Cornell University Hillel.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

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

Member, Trumbull Ethics Commission, 2014-2015; Trumbull Town Council, 2015-2017; MetroCogs Public Advisory Committee, 2016-present; Trumbull Aquatics Study Committee, 2016-present; Trumbull Redistricting Committee, 2022.

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?

As a member of the Board of Finance, my priority is to ensure transparency when it comes to the town's annual budget, our expenses and the cost to ensure Trumbull is an attractive community for residents, regardless of age or family status. I will work to maintain Trumbull's AA+ Bond Rating, and I will ensure that our town becomes a more attractive destination for investors and allows us to access funds for crucial projects.

In addition, I am committed to providing the necessary resources for our children to receive an excellent education, as well as fully funding our police to guarantee the safety of our community. It is also essential to me that we allocate the necessary resources to our Public Works Department, enabling us to improve our infrastructure so that to ensure optimal condition.

I will also work to prioritize the needs of our retirees and senior citizens, making sure that they can afford to live in Trumbull with dignity.

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

Taxes and spending. My approach to budgeting involves starting from the bottom and working my way up to craft a realistic and reasonable budget. I strongly believe that all departments should receive the funding they require, and if possible, some of the funding they desire for other projects.

My goal is to work tirelessly so that the taxpayers of Trumbull can keep more money in their pockets for spending or saving, rather than in the town's government coffers. It's concerning when we continue to spend an increasing amount of taxpayer funds with little to show for it.

To prevent Trumbull from becoming an unaffordable community to live in, and for our future generations, we must maintain control over our taxing and spending.

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

As members of a community, our shared goal is to work towards the greater good, and each potential volunteer brings their unique approach to achieving it. While there may be differing opinions, they largely center around a philosophical belief that our town government's spending is the root of the issue. In other words, it's not that taxes are too low, but that the money is being spent inefficiently. By reigning in spending, we can effectively control taxes and, as a result, benefit the hardworking taxpayers of Trumbull by allowing them to keep more of their hard-earned money.

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

My challenge is not directed towards any particular person, but towards a manner of thought and leadership that has led to a tax and spend policy which has yielded inadequate returns. My objective is to serve as a catalyst for change and bring about a new perspective.

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

My lengthy career in both the for profit and not-for-profit worlds has provided me with the necessary experience to affect positive change for our community.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

It's an old saying by a college professor that you should never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig.