Wilton Election: Keith Denning For Board Of Selectman

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

Patch contacted candidates to answer questions about their campaigns.

Democrat Keith Denning, 63, is running for Board of Selectman in Wilton.

Occupation: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Family in government: No

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

I would like to take Wilton to the next step. I think it's a great community, but as we know our town center area is a little lacking in infrastructure as well as businesses and opportunities. I'd like to see, along with the Plan for Conservation and Development, a plan for diverse housing opportunities that would allow folks to move into Wilton to help the businesses thrive, and encourage those people who want to stay here to live here and shop here and make this their community center instead of going to one of the neighboring communities to do their shopping.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I have a strong history of service both professionally as a Nurse Anesthetist and from my Catholic Social Teaching of working for the common good. As Chairman of Social Justice commission in the archdiocese of Cincinnati we worked to find solutions between the community and the police department.

I have devoted my life professionally and as a volunteer to create better communities and opportunities for everyone.

Accomplishments:

I have served as Chair of Cincinnati Archdiocesan commission, Clinical educator for the University of Cincinnati Nurse Anesthesia Program as well as served on the Board of Connecticut Nurse Anesthetists and the Wilton Democratic Town Committee and as a member of the Wilton Zoning Appeals Board.

I also have served on medical missions in Cambodia, Nicaragua, Russia, and Paraguay and the West Bank and Gaza.

Other issues:

I want to plan better maintenance of town infrastructure as well as plan new infrastructure that will allow for the town to have community festivals and events that will bring people to the town center. I also want to work with developers to find ways to find diverse housing opportunities for senior citizens wanting to downsize and new families who want to make Wilton their home.

We build businesses by serving the community first.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I am the new candidate without an agenda or a goal to hire office. I want to build a Wilton for us now and for the next 50 years.