Wallingford Election 2021: Tom Laffin 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.

Republican Tom Laffin, 41, is running for re-election to the Wallingford Town Council.

Occupation: Finance Associate And It Manager

Family: Son at Lyman Hall High School, and Daughter at Dag Hammarskjold Middle School

Experience: 5 Term Town Councilor and Previously served 2 terms on the Board of Education

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 one that all towns face and compete for - attracting new businesses and maintaining an environment where the businesses we have are supported and can flourish. More businesses in town create a tax base that lessens the reliance on the citizen, provide jobs, and offers larger choices in services in products.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I am in this to continue service and governing over politics and power. I speak when there is something to say that can guide the conversation and debate, and I don’t ask questions I already know the answer to, just to make it look like I am concerned. Accomplishing what is right for the town is more important to me than getting credit or my name in the paper.

Accomplishments:

I have served for the past 8 of my 10 on the Town Council as Vice Chairman. During all of this time I have facilitated conversations and accomplishments in areas of solving residential blight issues, supporting economic development, assisting our local non-profits such as SCOW, CT STEM Academy, and Wallingford Community Theater.

Other issues:

Governance over politics. Meaningful action and thoughtful decisions over empty words and political posturing.