Ken Hoffman Running For Wilton Planning And Zoning Commission

WILTON, CT — The state Municipal Election is Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Patch contacted candidates to answer questions about their campaigns.

Democrat Ken Hoffman, 66, is running for Planning and Zoning Commission in Wilton.

Occupation: Investment Banking And Private Equity

Family:With my partner, Kerry Nicholas, we have raised five children in Wilton. Tyler (31), Emily (29), Hayley (26), Madeline (25) and Lydia (21)

Experience: Wilton Pension Investment Board and Easton Board of Finance

Family in government: Madeline is a First Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Emily works for the United States Department of State. Both of them interned for Congressman Jim Himes when they were in college.

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

Wilton is entering a process of refining the town’s Master Plan. This will help us modernize and codify our zoning regulations but it is much more than simply an update of code.

Through the planning process we can address key questions that include:

• Can we better coordinate planning and zoning with economic development so that businesses will want to move to Wilton as well as expand in our community?

• How can we support a range of housing that offers people who work in Wilton many different types of opportunities to live in Wilton?

• What ways can land use be regulated to promote better access to transportation and walkable access to dining and entertainment?

• Can we increase housing choice by encouraging and working with developers who will build multi-family housing that will still blend well with our rural community?

• Will Wilton attract tomorrow’s successful workers who may be interested in different housing and amenities than their parents?

• Will we strategically look at how our open space will be preserved and expanded while ensuring that we plan for easy access and upkeep?

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I think the differences between the candidates are not the significant issue facing this board. We all seem to agree that Wilton needs more opportunities to create a business positive environment and provide additional housing opportunities for those that work here and all while maintaining our commitment to open space. I appreciate the diverse professional backgrounds of the people on the board as this will contribute to a range of thinking and open possibilities for Wilton's future.

Accomplishments:

As a future member of the Planning & Zoning Commission I believe I can add substantially to these efforts. As a business owner, I lead teams that are responsible for the strategic plans of some of the world’s largest financial service companies. These plans include recommendations for tough yet practical decisions where the way forward balances the costs, risks, and benefits for employees, clients, and shareholders.