Politics & Government
Wilton Candidate Profile: Ross Tartell For Board of Selectmen
Tartell tells Patch why he should be elected to the Board of Selectmen
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.
Ross Tartell, 67, is running for Board of Selectmen as a Democrat. He received a BA in social science from Hofstra University; an MA in psychology, an M.Ed. in counseling, and an M.Phil and Ph.D. in social psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University; and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He has worked as a management consultant for 41 years and is currently the Wilton Fire Commissioner.
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The single most pressing issue facing our town/district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
Wilton needs to recapture its vision for the future. My vision builds on a foundation of Wilton's assets of excellent schools, a vibrant and safe community and fiscal strength. This future vision of prosperity will create a town that is optimistic, responsive to our challenging world, family-friendly, and supportive to business.
Find out what's happening in Wiltonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
My vision for the town differs from that of the Republicans who are running for office. While we must be fiscally responsible, Republicans have a singular focus on costs which does not give sufficient weight to Wilton's assets:- Our town's stellar credit rating and fiscal strength.
- Wilton's excellent schools.
- Our focus on our children.
- A safe community.
We can use these incredible assets to Wilton's advantage and make strategic decisions that will keep Wilton as one of the best towns in Connecticut.
List other issues that define your campaign platform:
There are three fundamental issues:- Responsibly investing in and marketing Wilton's focus on children and families.
- Growing our grand list and ensuring a wide enough range of housing to meet the needs of millennials, seniors and growing families while maintaining the character of our town.
- Strengthening the public/private partnership with not-for-profits and volunteers that provide leadership and resources that are critical to Wilton's success.
What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
It's been my honor to be active in many of the organizations that are vital to our town's success. I chaired long-range planning teams in the Wilton Schools for 22 years and I have now been a Fire Commissioner for five years.
I believe my professional background qualifies me to be of real service on the Board of Selectmen. I spent 18 years at Pfizer, where my last position was heading Leadership Development for North America. At GE Capital, I was involved with Leadership and Communications. I currently have my own consulting firm, specializing in executive coaching. I have an M.Ed., MBA, and Ph.D. and teach a graduate course at Columbia University on managing change.
What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
As I seek to serve Wilton on the Board of Selectmen, I make this promise: I am committed to doing everything in my power to keep Wilton a vibrant and attractive community that is family-friendly, accommodating to business, and a place where we are optimistic about the future. In short, I will do what it takes so that Wilton remains one of the best places to live in Connecticut.
The best advice ever shared with me was ...
Be clear on the purpose of every conversation you have.
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