Patch Candidate Profile: Mia Spain Reichl For Danbury City Council, 1st Ward

DANBURY, CT — Election Day on Nov. 4 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot.

Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing their towns.

Candidate's Name: Mia Spain Reichl

What office are you seeking? City Council, 1st Ward

What town do you live in? Danbury

Party Affiliation: Democrat and WFP

Occupation: Retired Teacher, 16 years

Family: I have been married to my husband, Chuck, for thirty-three years. We have two children. Irene is twenty-seven and Charlie is twenty-five. They both went to Danbury schools and are graduates of DHS. Irene's Bachelor's degree (UVM) is in food systems, with a goal of addressing food insecurity. Charlie's degree (UB) is in Health Sciences, and he is now earning a second BS in Nursing.

I am one of seven children, in a long time Danbury family. My maternal grandfather had a shoe repair shop on White Street for many years. My dad was an attorney and a state representative, and deeply involved in the community.

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective: None

Why are you seeking this office? For the past decade, I have been involving myself more and more in our government. I love my town, and I would like to draw people into participation in the democratic process, most especially young people.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it: I have learned through talking with voters in my ward that people do not feel safe on our roads due to speeding, ATV use and dirt bikes. My own neighborhood experiences the same issues. I know that city government is currently addressing these problems, and should I be elected, I intend to keep them front and center until the majority of constituents are satisfied.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? I strongly support both early voting and absentee voting, while at least one of the Republicans running for City Council in the 1st Ward is vehemently against both. I would like to know what valid reasons there are for being against making voting accessible for all of our citizens. Furthermore, I support our mayor and look forward to actively participating in his furtherance of building a strong Danbury.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign? I will continue to knock on doors and make phone calls, speaking with as many people as I can, asking them what their concerns are. My job will be to listen to residents and bring their concerns to City Council.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? Great question! I led a fundraising campaign for an inner city school in Allentown, PA, in the mid 1990s when we lived there. A customer at our shoe repair shop had brought to our attention a dire need at the school where she taught: This elementary school (The Cleveland School) essentially had no library books to speak of, and we raised $10,000 with our local Kiwanis Club. This, in turn, led to obtaining winter boots for about two hundred of the inner city students who attended the school, and then, an additional project that collected, repaired and distributed much needed footwear for needy people in the community.

While in Allentown, I got a speed limit lowered on a busy strip of road, that had been forgotten by the state highway department. I spent time contacting the right people, providing information, and ultimately, an important adjustment was made.

Here in Danbury, I founded an exceptional preschool program that was thriving until COVID hit.
Also here in Danbury, my street was experiencing severe flooding from every heavy rain following the building of a new development. I made several unanswered complaints to 211, and finally went directly to the (Republican) mayor, who finally got the problem resolved.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I believe our government requires participation. We are fortunate in that we live in what has long been called the greatest country in the world. But this greatness cannot be taken for granted. It would be so helpful if we all were receiving and consuming our news from the same sources, or at the very least, from journalists, and not social media.

I am a person of integrity and I support human rights for everyone: people of color, women, gay people, trans people- ALL people.