West Haven Election 2023: Brian Laucks 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.

Brian Laucks is running for election to the West Haven City Council as a Democrat.

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

https://www.dorindaborer.com/

What office are you seeking?

Council-At-Large

Education.

MSOL, Organizational Leadership, Quinnipiac University; BA Economics, Clark University

What is your occupation?

Global OPS Project Management, SCM (Supply Chain Management), 20+ Years

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

Married to Mary A. Clifford-Laucks, who is employed by Stamford Health, Two Daughters, Emily, a 4th Grade Teacher in West Hartford, and Katie, an RN with the Yale New Haven Health System

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Not applicable

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

Not applicable

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 am seeking office because I believe I will be part of the solution, not part of the problem. I know what it takes to drive change and take action to solve complex problems. A cynical attitude cannot foster growth, drive improvement, and move forward. As a city, we need to move forward, talk about possibilities, and foster a positive culture. I am always open to new people, new ideas, and new ways of looking at things, and welcome the opportunity to put my enthusiasm and tenacity to work!

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 our constituents is centered on "doing the right thing, even though no one is watching": integrity! Our constituents work very hard to pay their taxes. In return, the expectations of our constituents are very clear: we must operate with integrity at all times, "walk the talk", and deliver on our promises, ethically and with integrity. In summary, "promises that are made, must be promises kept". I have spent a career as an agent for Global 2000 and Fortune 500 organizations spending funds ethically, and advocating for fairness, always. I intend to keep the integrity bar high for our constituents.

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

I do not spend a lot of time dwelling on others' capabilities. I am more focused on the strengths that I can bring to the role. I have a tremendous amount of desire, I am a self-starter and have the intellectual horsepower needed to be an asset to the city. Professionally, I have been exposed to, and have worked on, turnaround and expense reduction environments, that require change and new ways of thinking. Operating with an underdog mentality and a heightened sense of urgency, which are attributes I have, always worked for yesterday's challenges and will be needed for today's environment.

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

In addition to integrity and accountability, other issues that will be addressed are cost reduction opportunities, the tax rate, city tidiness opportunities including, but not limited to, vegetation management, blight, and ensuring our jewel, the waterfront, is optimized and something we can be proud of!

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

I like a challenge. This is a very challenging time for the city and would characterize it as at a crossroads. There is a tremendous opportunity to talk about possibilities and potential. But, there is hard work ahead to make that potential a reality. Anyone who knows me, and knows me well, will tell you I have never wavered when it comes to hard work and driving for results. Tenacity, not taking "no" for an answer (within reason), and "sticktoitiveness" are part of my DNA. Specifically, there have been several points in my career, where my Team and I had to achieve results under tremendous pressure and time constraints. Conclusion: staying focused in uncertain times is the best thing you can do for yourself and your organization. This is the way I intend to operate.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

I received a lot of great advice from My Father. My Father had a winning attitude! One thing that stands out he said was "the only thing you can control every day is your attitude"...most everything else is out of your control!

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

Laughter tends to make the World go around and I do my best not to take myself too seriously. I try to live each day like it might be my last!

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.