Wallingford Election 2021: Alexa Tomassi Running For Town Council

WALLINGFORD, CT — The 2021 municipal election is heating up in Wallingford with plenty of races on the ballot.

Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 2 and cast their ballots for the position of mayor, along with seats on the Town Council and Board of Education.

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

Alexa Tomassi, 30, is running for election to the Wallingford Town Council as a Democrat.

Occupation: Associate Communications Officer, Yale School Of Medicine

Experience: District 8 Co-leader and Wallingford Democratic Town Committee

Family in government: No.

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

The single most pressing issue facing our town is our outdated, broken infrastructure. Our plan is to maximize state and federal funding for much-needed infrastructure improvements, for things like our aging schools, aging sewer and water plant, roads and sidewalks, and our shuttered community pool.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I am running for Town Council because I believe in the fundamental responsibility of a government to make life better for its people. Right now, Wallingford is not operating at its optimal level in doing that for this community. Coming out of this pandemic, on top of "regular" life's everyday struggles, we can be doing so much more to give people a better quality of life. I am also from the Millennial generation and can offer a new perspective on issues affecting our town. We are the ones ready to make change and help people in real ways, and in ways that they'll notice in their everyday lives. I think we have the responsibility to do that for our neighbors.

Accomplishments:

I worked in the nonprofit world for 5 years and often handling crisis communications among a number of other projects and priorities. I have a bachelor's in Urban and Community Studies and have had experience and education on how towns and cities work and how we can make them better. I have also been a member of the DTC since 2018 and I have been co-leader of District 8 since 2020.

Other issues:

Our slate and campaign platform includes things like pursuing competitive strategies for economic growth and Grand List growth, exploring sustainable energy options, improving Town Council oversight of spending, ensuring transparent government with access for all via technology upgrades, prioritizing funding for education, unburdening residential taxpayers and expanding senior tax relief, maximizing state and federal funding for infrastructure improvements, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

This is my hometown, where me and my brother and our friends all grew up and went to school. This is where I came of age and grew into who I am. I know that this community is a wonderful place to live, but it can be better. We don't want to change it so much as we want to improve it. That's the impact I hope to have. For as many things that we'd say are wrong with it, or can be fixed, it's just that. It's that this place can be even better than I already think it is. I love it, and I just want it to be its absolute best for the next generation of people who will learn and grow here like I did.

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