West Haven Election 2023: Bonnie Posick Running For City Council

WEST HAVEN, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in West Haven 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 City Council, Board of Education and more.

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

Bonnie Posick, 63, is running for election to the West Haven City Council as a Republican.

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

https://www.facebook.com/Bonni...

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here.

District 2

Education.

I earned a B.A. in Journalism and an M.B.A., both from Southern Connecticut State University.

What is your occupation?

I am retired.

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

I have two children. My son, Colby, is an electrician’s apprentice and lives with me. My daughter, Cristina, transferred from the active-duty U.S. Army after 13 years. She now serves in the Army Reserves as a Major. Cristina is employed as a senior project manager for ThermoFisher Scientific. She and her wife, Shawna (a Sergeant First Class in the Army), live in Hawaii with their three children.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

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

I served on the Natural Resources and Open Space Commission in Hamden in the 1990s.

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 lived in West Haven for more than 15 years and, in that time, I have seen conditions in our city become increasingly worse and I have become frustrated and angry with our city officials. I have attempted to make improvements in my neighborhood at a grass-roots level, but now I feel compelled to do more.

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

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is unaffordable taxes, and this is what I intend to do about it: After working in city government in New Haven for more than 20 years, I know that budget numbers are routinely "padded." I intend to study the budget line by line and make suggestions for cuts. I will also support the hiring of an Economic Development director and vote in favor of appropriate development projects. More taxpaying businesses equals a lighter tax burden for our residents.

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

I am retired, so my full-time job will be my position on the City Council. I am available to address my constituents' concerns 24/7, I am a hard worker, and I am extremely responsive. Finally, because I live on a fixed income, I understand the importance of fiscal responsibility in our city.

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

My priorities for West Haven and, more specifically, for the Second District are mainly quality of life issues: I want to help make our city a clean, safe place where families can enjoy all the amazing things West Haven has to offer. I will continue to work to discourage dumping and littering in our area, and I will cooperate with the city’s Blight Officer to implement the blight ordinances and impose fines on property owners as necessary.

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

I have more than two decades of experience in city government, so I understand the inner workings of the system. Yet, because I am a relative newcomer to West Haven, I am not part of the system.

I will put transparency first in everything I do on the Council. I am very honest and straightforward, and those qualities will inform every decision I make.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Throughout my childhood, my parents always impressed upon me the importance of being truthful. This is a quality that has served me well throughout my life.

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

Over a long career with the city of New Haven, I worked in the Board of Education, the Parks Department, and in Police/Fire/Public Safety. That experience provided me with a unique insight into city government. I look forward to using that knowledge to improve our lives in West Haven.

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