Wilton Candidate Profile: Florence Johnson For P & Z Commission

WILTON, CT — The 2019 municipal election is heating up in Wilton and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

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

Florence Johnson is running for a seat on the Planning & Zoning Commission as a Democrat.

She attended Wilton High School, and received a BA from University of California at Santa Cruz, an MA from Sarah Lawrence College, is a UConn/USDA Master Gardener, and studied landscape design and horticulture at NY Botanical Garden.

The single most pressing issue facing our town/district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The most critical issue for our town is to engage the community in the creation and operationalization of a comprehensive town plan to faithfully and transparently implement residents' vision for Wilton's future in the 2029 Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD). Reviewing and updating zoning regulations consistent with 21st century best planning and zoning practices and the POCD will be a key role for P&Z. Going forward, it will be essential for Commissioners to ensure applications align with the town Plan. These are areas where my past roles as a policy analyst, operations and project manager, and community educator will help the Commission engage the community and inform decision-making. I will bring to bear evidence based lessons from relevant communities to guide resolution on updated regulations and applicant matters, and insure a balanced assessment of applicants' and community concerns.

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

I have decades of experience living and working in Wilton and nearby towns, formal training in drafting and landscape design, and experience analyzing complex regulations, policies, and laws to create an implementation plan.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

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

After working in many different industries and roles, I have proven ability to work collaboratively across functional areas, integrate best practices from many sources, manage projects, envision and articulate out-of-the- box solutions, and create a process to operationalize a vision.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

When we work together to identify and dismantle barriers, effectively communicate and set expectations, and engage people in the decision-making process, we will embody excellence and raise value.