2025 Patch Profile: Bob Hendrickson​, Enfield Town Council

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

Bob Hendrickson is running for the Enfield Town Council as a Republican.

The following is Bob Hendrickson's questionnaire sent to Patch:

Candidate's Name: Bob Hendrickson

What office are you seeking? Town Council District 4

What town do you live in? Enfield

Campaign Website: https://enfieldrtc.org

Party Affiliation: Republican

Occupation: Snack route operator.

Family: Married to Kathie for 16 years. Two adult children.

Previous public office, appointive or elective: Yes, I am the District 4 town councilor.

Why are you seeking this office? I am seeking re-election to continue serving the residents of District 4 and to ensure that our community moves forward with thoughtful, responsible leadership. I believe in smart growth and strong fiscal oversight.

As your representative, I want to be at the table during the budgeting process to carefully review every department and expense, making sure we are spending taxpayer dollars wisely and avoiding unnecessary tax increases.

Together, we can keep our town thriving while protecting the financial interests of our residents.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it: Next year, our community faces a tough challenge: property revaluation, continuing the road referendum and the costly elementary school modernization referendum.

Delaying these projects will only increase costs, and state reimbursements may decrease.

I understand the impact this has on taxpayers and am committed to holding down taxes while investing in our future.

Together, we can move forward with responsible Republican leadership and ensure we don't spend more than we can afford.

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

What sets me apart from the other candidates is my experience.

I’ve managed a successful retail business, currently operate a franchise, and have served on the council for the past two years.

This combination gives me a strong understanding of both the local economy and the workings of local government.

I know the challenges our town is facing, and I also know what effective leadership looks like.

I’m confident that I have the experience, the work ethic, and the vision to provide the strong, practical leadership our community needs moving forward.

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

One of my top concerns is ensuring the safety of our students in Enfield.

I believe the continued presence of armed security guards in our schools is essential, and I will advocate for the Board of Education to maintain strong support for this measure.

Removing this layer of protection would be a serious disservice to both students and parents.

Every child deserves to feel safe at school, and every parent deserves peace of mind.

While the cost of this initiative is not insignificant, the value of our children’s safety is immeasurable—there is no higher priority.

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

One of my key accomplishments this past year was leading a detailed and disciplined review of the town budget.

Recognizing the burden that a significant tax increase would place on our residents, we worked closely with each department to review their budgets line by line.

This collaborative process allowed us to make responsible and necessary cuts while still maintaining essential services.

While some proposed simply raising taxes to meet all funding requests, I strongly believe that responsible governance requires careful prioritization and stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

No town can thrive under unchecked spending. We must always aim to balance the needs of our departments with the financial realities of our residents.

Looking ahead, we face major challenges, including the continued roads referendum, the elementary school modernization project, and the upcoming property revaluation.

These are significant initiatives that will require even greater diligence from the town council to ensure we manage costs effectively.

I am confident that my experience, focus on transparency, and commitment to fiscal responsibility have prepared me to help lead our town through these complex financial decisions.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you? Take care of your customer, because it is twice as hard to get them back.