CT Patch Candidate Profile: Jeff Steele 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:
Jeff Steele

What office are you seeking?
Representative Town Meeting

What town do you live in?
Fairfield

Party Affiliation:
Republican

Occupation:
Business Development - 30 years

Family:
Wife (of 28 years) Brenda and three kids: son Alex (26), who teaches economics at Trinity Pawling Prep School, son Ben (24), who is a paraprofessional at Tomlinson Middle School, and Daughter Julia (20), who is a Junior at the University of New Hampshire - all of whom went through the Fairfield Public School system.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
My wife Brenda has been the Director of the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities in Fairfield for the last five years.

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
I have been an elected member of the Fairfield Representative Town Meeting (RTM) for eight terms (16 of the last 20 years), since 2005. I am currently the Minority Leader of the Republican Caucus. I also served as the Moderator of the RTM for 3 1/2 years.

Why are you seeking this office?
I’m running for reelection to the RTM because I care deeply about Fairfield — my home for the past 26 years and a community I’ve proudly served for 16 of those years. I believe civic engagement is essential to preserving what makes Fairfield one of the most desirable towns in Connecticut.

Fairfield is vibrant, family-friendly, and rich in talent and resources, culture, and community spirit. I want to continue helping guide its future, ensuring we remain a town admired by others — and one we’re all proud to call home.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
The two most pressing issues facing the town are governance and overdevelopment. We need better governance—particularly accountability, oversight, and responsible management of operations and spending. A recent example is the questionable disbanding of the Parking Authority, which occurred through an opaque process that many felt lacked transparency and legitimacy. Improving governance also means ensuring better balance within our elected bodies. One-party control of local government, including a super majority on the RTM, undermines the checks and balances that are essential to good decision-making.

Second, while expanding our commercial tax base is important, we must also remain vigilant about the risks of unchecked overdevelopment. Rapid growth puts significant strain on our infrastructure, emergency services, and overall quality of life. Joining the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority, for example, was concering, as it compromises our local zoning authority and may further accelerate development without appropriate local oversight.

I will push for better governance and more thoughtful dialogue and discussion about legislative priorities in town.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I feel that I am a well-rounded candidate. My 16 years of experience as an RTM member would be the major difference from my competitors, having also served as the RTM's Moderator, Minority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, and Chairman of the Legislation and Administration Committee. In addition, I am a 26-year Fairfield resident, who has put three children through the public school system, coached youth sports for over a decade, commuted to NYC via train for 20 years, and is actively engaged in the arts and culture in town as a musician. Taken together, I have a multi-angle perspective of the town and its needs.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
I plan to stay focused on affordability and livability in Fairfield. This entails carefully scrutizing the annual budget and our capital spending, including bonding for large projects. We also need to be cautious about overregulating our community. Certain ordinances, while well-intentioned, risk reducing the livability of our town. For instance, the recent noise ordinance feels overly restrictive, and the planned expansion of speed cameras raises valid concerns about fairness and overreach, along with questionable financial gains.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
As noted earlier, my 16 years of serving on the RTM as a member, but also as a leader (Moderator, Minority Caucus Leader, Deputy Majority Caucus Leader, Chair of the Legislation and Administration Committee). In addition, I have always been able to work across the aisle because local elected office should not be about national politics or individual agendas or one political party. We should all represent the town. I know the issues, the processes the RTM must o through, and the proper rules of decorum that all elected leaders must follow.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Follow your passion.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
The RTM serves an important role in town and I feel I bring an important perspective to the body. I am balanced, fair, and am always willing to hear and consider multiple perpsectives on an issue. That makes me a better representative and decision maker.