CT Patch Candidate Profile: Jackson Shostak For RTM

FAIRFIELD, CT — The 2025 election is heating up in Connecticut and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Connecticut Patch asked local candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Candidate's Name:
Jackson Shostak

What office are you seeking?
Representative Town Meeting (RTM, District 7)

What town do you live in?
Fairfield, Connecticut

Campaign Website
https://www.fairfieldrtc.com/2025-rtm-candidates

Party Affiliation:
Independent (Endorsed by the Republican Party)

Occupation:
Public Affairs & Community Outreach Coordinator for the Connecticut General Assembly (2 Years)

Family:
I was wonderfully raised on Figlar Avenue with my younger brother (Will), sister (Phoebe), and a plethora of childhood pets, by Jack and Lakin Shostak, both of whom grew up in Fairfield as well. I’m blessed with having grandparents still living close: Janet (and formerly Jack) Shostak, and Paul and Cindy (and formerly Ann) Hughes.

Now, I am living at home, working, and having the unique privilege of running with my father, both bidding to represent our childhood neighborhood, District 7.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
I currently have the privilege of serving the constituents of the 36th State Senate District, and their state Senator Ryan Fazio, as his Public Affairs and Community Outreach Coordinator in the Connecticut General Assembly. Senator Fazio represents Greenwich, New Canaan, and Stamford and serves on the state’s Energy and Technology Committee, as well as the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee, as their Ranking Member on both.

My godfather and uncle, William Pitt, serves as a Chief Housing Clerk for the state of Connecticut in the Housing session at New Haven. My aunt, Missy Hughes, served Governor Evers of Wisconsin as his Economic Development Secretary, and is pursuing a run of her own for Governor of WI.

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
I have never held public office, appointive or elective. However, I did have the opportunity to get elected and serve as Fairfield Ludlowe Class of 2019's Secretary.

Why are you seeking this office?
Local and state government, while not the hottest topic or venture for everyone, has been a true passion of mine since I was a teenager. In 2015, I started volunteering at the young age of fourteen, and have remained actively involved despite the ebbs and flows of politics. Now in 2025, after speaking with my family, the many friends and neighbors whom I grew up with, and the mentors I’ve gained along the way, I finally decided to throw my own hat into the ring.

Yet, this race isn’t about my own passions, it is about the privilege of representing my childhood and current neighborhood: District 7 (portions of the Holland Hill and Osborn Hill neighborhoods).

I hope to be a voice for my neighbors, and lead by example through effective communication and collaboration. Representatives need to be more transparent and willing to cross the aisle, especially here on the local level, to implement policy that reflects residents’ needs and desires.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
Overdevelopment: commercial and real estate development has left town residents gobsmacked. Becoming more and more unrecognizable, many residents are not only frustrated with the facade of construction and new buildings in Fairfield, but the traffic time and infrastructure costs we are accruing as well, in addition to environmental and public safety concerns. While some parcels and lots remain undeveloped, or are due for redevelopment, that does not mean any project is right for any neighborhood.

As the four-year moratorium for Fairfield sets in for the controversial 8-30g statute, which allowed for developers and the state to supersede our local decisions, I hope that the RTM and TPZ defend Fairfield’s interests and protect our local control of decisions moving forward. I was disappointed to learn that the Representative Town Meeting voted to partner with the CMDA (Connecticut Municipal Development Authority). This group has minimal Fairfield County representation on their board, a goal of developing towns near train stations, a budget of $60 billion in state bonding, and sets "agreements" over development districts with municipal governments. Despite some interest statewide, no singular town of Connecticut’s 169 municipalities has yet to enter into a formal agreement with them.

While this was a non-binding agreement, and only to enter into discussions on potential development (so the majority on RTM claims), representatives must remain vigilant, aware of the conversations happening, and must consistently ask for feedback from residents on these discussions surrounding development.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
First and foremost, I want to acknowledge that serving (let alone running for office) is never easy, and that I do have respect for and appreciation of my opponents’ time that they have volunteered both on the campaign trail and in office.

That said, while I understand that this is a volunteer position, I would want to take the opportunity to be more accessible to the community and transparent about our town’s processes. If given the opportunity, I would send monthly updates about what’s happening in town, write to the local media, and offer myself to be publicly available to the constituents, even when on walks or runs, in District 7.

Another difference is my story. By growing up in town (multi-generational), you get to know a lot of families and faces, developing a holistic understanding of unique perspectives and stories. Over my twenty-four years, I’ve: attended all three levels of Fairfield Public School, had my first official job with Parks and Rec, grew up in the house of a small business owner and Fairfield PTA-mom, and went to church locally with my grandparents.

In fact, in going to and graduating from school with some of my opponents’ children, I would be the second youngest on the ballot -- and would bring a unique and youthful perspective that appreciates the town’s history, present, and future.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
There are many other issues, such as affordability, infrastructure and environmental concerns, and fiscal responsibility. We are fortunate to live in an affluent community, but it is expensive for all. From adults, like myself, just beginning “adulting/adulthood,” to people who are starting and raising families, and seniors who live on a fixed income, we all feel a burden. Affordability starts locally, including property values and taxes, as well as the cost of living.

Our local municipal government must remain fiscally responsible to prevent unsustainable tax hikes or fiscal policy that disrespects our local taxpayers, families, and seniors. Under this administration, we have seen the largest tax hike since 2018, not to mention the town's controversial merging of the vehicle property tax payment into one installment, which came as a surprise for many. Additionally, I’ve heard more frustrations at the door about our recent sewer bills. Our RTM must reflect on these concerns, and propose and pass meaningful solutions that respect the taxpayers, and fail those that don't.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I have been involved in local and state politics since 2015, and have since remained informed and engaged. Now, working in an official capacity in the state Senate as a Public Affairs Coordinator, I work with constituents every day in scheduling meetings, tours of businesses, policy roundtables, celebrations, sharing legislative information and updates, among many other responsibilities.

Ultimately, I’ve had the privilege of growing up in this community, getting to know my neighbors, and learning how to work together to find solutions to sometimes complex problems.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Live bold, be kind.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I hope that this article was informative of who I am, and what a representative I could be. If elected to have the privilege of representing you, I hope to lead with compassion, integrity, and transparency. Our representatives should do a better job in respecting the town taxpayer, offering transparency, and defending the town’s interests -- as determined by its residents.

If you have any questions, or if you would like to discuss further, please reach out to me directly at jackson.shostak@gmail.com. Thank you, and I hope to earn your vote this election season.