Wallingford Election 2023: Jesse Reynolds Running For Town Council

WALLINGFORD, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Wallingford with plenty of races on the ballot.

Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 7 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.

Jesse Reynolds, 50, is running for election to the Wallingford Town Council as a Democrat.

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://www.JesseReynoldsTownC...

Education.

MS: Research Statistics and Measurement

What is your occupation?

Biostatistician/Director of the ClinicalTrials.gov Team at Yale University (since 2012)

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

Married to Christine for 23 years; father to Ian (22) and Finn (16).

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My father Patrick Reynolds has served on the Board of Education. My grandfather John Reynolds was Deputy Chief of Police of Wallingford.

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

No.

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 have served Wallingford as a volunteer in many capacities. My children have both attended Wallingford Public Schools. I believe that my professional experience, combined with my service to the community, makes me an ideal and unique candidate to be 1 of 9 people on Town Council that makes important decisions for the town of Wallingford.

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

Infrastructure.

In addition to our roads and sidewalks, Wallingford's buildings and facilities require a substantial amount of attention. I will be a voice for proactive forward movement and for responsible prioritization of town projects to both address our town's needs but to also be mindful of the burden to taxpayers in town.

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

I feel that my knowledge of population statistics and epidemiological data make me unique. I understand how population estimates and projections are arrived at and how they should be interpreted.

After going through the COVID-19 pandemic, my experience in working with biomedical and health related data would make me uniquely qualified in the face of the ongoing issues with COVID-19, as well as any potential new health related concerns in the future.

These types of data should be considered when we make decisions in the present and plan for the future.

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

I am seeking an at-large seat with no direct challenge to any particular incumbent. When elected, I will bring an open mind to work with all Town Councilors to achieve the best possible future for Wallingford's citizens.

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

I believe that we need to focus on our youth. To do this, we need to invest in our schools and recreational options. We need to work to provide young people with the tools to achieve success in school and to provide healthy and safe options for them when not in school.

Having desirable schools and recreational options (parks, pools, etc.) will also serve as a way to entice new young people to move to Wallingford looking to start families. This will ensure that the tax burden is not left to be shouldered by our already aging population in future years.

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

I have successfully served on the Wallingford Public Library Board of Managers and the Wallingford Youth Soccer League Board of Directors. In those roles, I was a steady voice and willing collaborator and I am proud of the work that I accomplished in those roles.

I have received awards for my work in the field of research over the past 21 years. I am also a published co-author of more than 30 peer-reviewed publications. My work at Yale University is nationally recognized in terms of innovation and the overall success of our department in what we accomplish.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

To carefully listen to people and to consider their perspective when forming an appropriate response.

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

I want to serve the town of Wallingford so that people can continue to live and grow - as well as retire - in our wonderful community. With some careful planning and some hard work, we can improve our town, bring it up to date and make it an attractive place for new people to move to. I believe that I have the skills and mindset to work with my fellow Councilors to achieve that and so much more for our town.