2025 Patch Profile: Dan Polhamus, Avon Town Council

AVON, CT — Avon Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Dan Polhamus is running for the Avon Town Council as a Democrat.

The following is Dan Polhamus's questionnaire sent to Patch:

Candidate's Name: Dan Polhamus

What office are you seeking? Town Council

What town do you live in? Avon

Campaign Website: https://avonctdems.com/

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Occupation: Principal scientist in biomedical sciences (PhD, 15 years)

Family: Yes, I am blessed with a wonderful wife and three daughters. Two of them are at Pine Grove, and one is at Thompson Brook. Also, we are a foster care family, an experience that has affected my life and compassion for others in a profound way.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Previous public office, appointive or elective:

I am running for my fourth term on the Avon Town Council, and I've been the chairman for the past two terms.

Why are you seeking this office?

I have always been one who cares deeply about my community and wants to ensure the success of my neighbors and town.

Ultimately, everything I do on the Town Council comes back to that simple belief, and I measure our successes and failures according to it.

I am also a proponent of the interpretation of fiscal responsibility that is upkeep, maintenance, and taking care of our assets.

It has unfortunately taken much of the duration of my service on the council to steer the town to be more aligned with this philosophy, but it is the most responsible long-term strategy and one that will continue to ensure Avon's success for the long haul.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it: The will to invest in the Avon's future.

My past three terms serve as evidence of what I will continue to do. Under my leadership, we have shored up our emergency response equipment needs and public safety infrastructure.

Major connectivity improvements have been made with the completion of the North-South phase of Old Farms Road, and the East-West design is nearing completion.

We have dedicated unprecedented funding to our roads; their funding has nearly tripled since 2020 and has allowed us to “pay-as-you-go” versus taking on debt for their repair.

We have moved to encourage strategic growth in our housing as it fits Avon, aiming to protect our open spaces while adding much-needed affordable housing.

We continue to address capital needs that are long overdue with the acquisition of a new BOE admin building.

We have done all of this while leaving Avon in an incredibly strong financial position, cutting debt by 20 percent since 2020, increasing reserves to 15 percent of spending, and keeping the property tax levy increase at a regional low average of 2.4 percent per year for the past three years.

Much of what we’ve been able to accomplish will come to be realized as major improvements to life in Avon.

What most excites me, however, is the groundwork we’re laying for continued progress in the next few years.

With minimal debt, strong reserves, and the highest credit ratings possible, we are poised to prime Avon for success in the decades to come.

Having the right people in place (appointed and elected) has been, and will continue to be, absolutely critical to the continued mission of progress.

I look forward to serving Avon for another term and continuing to strengthen our position as one of the premier places to raise a family and call “home” in the country.

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

Experience, a thoughtful approach, and the will to stand up against rampant, intentional, and politicized misinformation in a time where threats against our politicians are reckless and cheap.

I will always steer towards what is best for Avon, not what is best for just a few.

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

Finding a responsible way to continue to provide services for an affordable price is a top priority, and one that will be made more difficult as the economy changes.

Slashing capital funding, as was done historically, is not the right approach.

I will continue to make the case that investment in the future is the most affordable long-term approach.

I will continue to search for regional collaborations, grant funding, and other partnerships to reduce the burden on homeowners.

I will look for ways to responsibly add housing and commercial properties to grow the grand list.

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

The evidence is rich at this point. Highlights include the emergency communication tower by the landfill, which would likely not have happened with "softer" leadership.

The referendum accepting the grant funding for the North-South Old Farms Rd project would have also likely failed.

We have established a more responsible plan for funding road improvements (despite resistance from the Republican Party) that will save the town an enormous amount of money over the long run.

This list could go on and on.

Perhaps the best evidence, however, is that Avon finds itself as arguably one of the most desirable locations in the state and country, as evidenced by the real estate market.

The increases we have seen here simply do not happen in a place that is being poorly managed.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

I'll give you two that work in harmony:

"Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching", and "Have the hide of a rhino and the heart of a saint."

Don't confuse resilience with callousness. Endure criticism without indifference, stay principled without being brittle. It is a balancing act on the Town Council, and not always an easy balance to strike.

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

It is an incredible honor to serve on the Town Council for Avon. I'm thankful to the constituents for putting their faith in me, and I look forward to continuing to serve for the next two years and more to come.