2025 Patch Profile: Sarah Faulkner, Canton Board of Selectmen

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

Sarah Faulkner is running for the Canton Board of Selectmen as a Democrat.

The following is Sarah Faulkner's questionnaire sent to Patch:

Candidate's Name: Sarah Faulkner

What office are you seeking? Board of Selectmen

What town do you live in? Canton

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Occupation: I teach eighth-grade science. This is my 27th year in education. In these years, I've taught science in all the secondary grades and have been an administrator for curriculum.

Family: My daughter and son, now grown and living too far away, grew up here in Collinsville and went through the Canton schools. They are brilliant, talented, and I wish I saw them more often.

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective: I am currently an elected member of the Canton Board of Finance. Previously, I served for 31 years as an appointed member of the Canton Conservation Commission. I have also served on a variety of appointed subcommittees, such as the Selectmen's River Access subcommittee.

Why are you seeking this office? The Canton Board of Selectmen governs many services that are critical to our residents. From public safety, roads, and facilities to town planning, land use, economic growth, and natural resource conservation, this board is essential to the town’s present and future.

Over decades, I’ve attended and participated in countless meetings and have watched the selectmen make decisions that ranged from visionary to ill-advised.

I have been actively involved in town issues for 40+ years and have a strong understanding of the workings of town government and organizations.

It’s time for me to step up and bring my expertise, commitment, and tenacity to this board.

Canton faces challenges that are causing us to question the very identity of our town. What kind of development do we want? What is special about Canton that must be protected, and what kind of change do we want? How can we meet all residents’ needs while being fiscally responsible?

I have strengths in collaboration, fiscal oversight, and balancing complicated challenges. I will bring my experience, knowledge, and courage to the Canton Board of Selectmen and help thoughtfully steer us to a future we choose.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it: The single most pressing issue for Canton is developing long-term plans for the town to guide us today and in the future.

On the Canton Board of Finance, I’ve been working with the other members to develop a long-range financial plan for Canton. We need to do the same for the Canton Board of Selectmen’s responsibilities.

Canton is often reactive, not planning for the future but dealing with it as it comes. We need a strong vision for economic development, taxes, growth, public services, and natural resources. We need to plan for controlled economic development to ease our tax burden.

We need to consider how our changing climate will affect our roads, bridges, watercourses, infrastructure, and forests. Our lack of comprehensive planning has resulted in some reactive, expensive, and controversial decisions.

I have participated in long-range planning with a variety of organizations and can bring my experience and balanced perspective to the town’s needs.

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

I am terrific at listening, researching, and being fully informed about town issues, and then working collaboratively with others in town to plan solutions.

I show up, I work hard, and I get things done. So many governmental decisions are rushed with too little knowledge and too little public input – that is not the way I work.

I want the best choices for Canton for all our residents, implemented transparently and collaboratively. Not everyone will agree with every decision, but I want everyone to know that they were heard and considered. Selectmen often must make hard decisions and defend them. I will always answer to our residents.

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

I am a passionate conservationist, and believe that our river, hills, forests, historic buildings, neighborhoods, and open spaces are critical and interwoven parts of our town’s identity.

Protecting our natural areas helps make the town more resilient to weather and climate changes, attracts tourism and residents, and ensures our mental health as a community.

I will bring a big-picture approach to growth in town, so that we retain our special natural and historic features while addressing needs for diverse housing, expanded businesses, public safety, and reliable infrastructure. I will expand public participation in our decision-making and seek collaborative solutions to our challenges.

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

I am thoroughly familiar with how Canton runs and will bring my strong background to our Board of Selectmen.

My experience gained in eight years on the Canton Board of Finance will help us control expenses while still keeping the town moving forward. I served for 31 years on the Conservation Commission, am the Secretary for the Canton Land Conservation Trust, where I have been a director for decades, and have attended more town meetings than I can count. I have been active in many land-use issues, assisted our fire department, volunteered for the library, and run programs for the schools.

I am a teacher and have been a school administrator, manager in business, and director for non-profits. I bring a strong work ethic, respect for others, and a dedication to leaving the world a better place. I was the driving force behind the new boat launch on the river, helped protect lands in Canton such as Sweetheart Mountain, helped build the first wading pool at Mills Pond, and participated in several town plans.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The better question is, ‘What drives me?” My mother always told me that I could do anything I set my mind to do. She inspired me to push myself and hold high standards. I am honest, ethical, and moral. Each day, especially as a teacher, I live by two quotes: “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” paraphrased from Mahatma Gandhi. And a quote by Angela Davis: "I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept."

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

I’ve lived here for over 40 years, raised two children who went through and graduated from the Canton schools, and value our supportive, creative community. In Canton, we get to know each other, help each other, and enjoy each other. We have a rare community. From town concerts, paddling on the river, living in historic Collinsville, and being awestruck by the beauty of autumn on our trails, we are so lucky to live here.

I love to hike, go birding, kayak, garden, and read. I donate my extra vegetables to the food bank and enjoy seeing bears and bobcats in my backyard. I want to help keep Canton the amazing community it is, while ensuring that our town government serves all our residents fairly and economically.