CT Patch Candidate Profile: Rob Blanchard 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:
Rob Blanchard

What office are you seeking?
RTM - District 6

What town do you live in?
Fairfield

Campaign Website
https://www.fairfielddemocrats.com/rtm-candidates/robert-blanchard

Party Affiliation:
Democrat

Occupation:
I currently serve as the Director Communications to the Governor with over a decade of experience in public and private sector communications/public relations.

Family:
Yes, my wife Samantha Norton, who grew up in Fairfield, our son Theo and two dogs Penelope and Winslow.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
My wife, who I met working in public service, currently serves as the Director of Communications for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System, where she promotes affordable and accessible higher education. Additionally, I have teachers and police in my extended family.

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
I currently serve on Fairfield's Representative Town Meeting (RTM) in the 6th District, where I've advocated for investments in education and town amenities, as well as careful budgeting and keeping property taxes predictable.

Why are you seeking this office?
When I first ran and began serving on the RTM, I heard from a lot of my constituents that they simply felt that they lived in a part of town that wasn't always "heard," which was disheartening. From supporting quality educational services at McKinley to working to keep property taxes reasonable for seniors who have lived in town for decades, to combatting what has felt like an onslaught of development and advocating for better public safety, I have worked tirelessly to be a voice that speaks up for the neighbors in my district. I have also tried to bring new ideas, bipartisan collaboration and experience to the table. I believe firmly in working together and hearing good ideas–no matter where they come from. As a younger father raising a family in Fairfield, I know why families choose this community to raise their family and why lifelong residents choose to stay and will continue to work to improve the quality of life of our town for all residents.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
Residents, whether they are seniors, new families, renters or homeowners, deserve quality services at an affordable, predictable and reasonable cost. While I believe our town budget is one of the most important issues, as it impacts every resident and symbolizes what we value as a community, I have heard more and more anxious concerns about haphazard planning and overdevelopment recently from neighbors. From Soundview Avenue to Biro Street, I have spent more time meeting with impacted neighbors, walking their streets, writing to the Town Planning and Zoning Commission (TPZ) and attending their meetings to advocate against development proposals in which developers are leveraging a state law to bypass legitimate safety and planning concerns. Fairfield has approved hundreds of units of housing, many of which are in the 6th District. McKinley Elementary, a school I cannot wait for our son to attend, is currently at 90% student capacity. If these units are approved and built, the school will exceed capacity by the time he starts school in 2029 at a time we have already been grappling with racial imbalance. I worry about teacher-student ratios, access to learning resources and more that could impact our students. I want to be clear that the RTM has no control or vote over any planning or zoning proposals, other than to help organize and empower neighborhoods that face an uphill and sometimes litigious battle against profitable developers. Aside from this issue, I believe we need to continue to develop a longer term vision that incorporates smart financial planning for Fairfield’s future and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with both the BOF, BOS and fellow RTM members on that vision.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I plan to continue to work hard on behalf of the neighbors and residents by being accessible, reachable, helping with whatever issues or concerns may be impacting them, and stepping up to support our schools, like McKinley Elementary, by volunteering or helping nonprofits like Operation Hope that so many count on. Residents expect results and I plan to keep being there for them and supporting them anyway I can. I will continue to communicate with constituents via my monthly email updates or through social media, so they feel like they have a specific "newsletter" on issues or updates impacting their neighborhood. On the legislative side, I plan to bring my experience and perspective on approaching challenges facing Fairfield and leveraging a strong understanding of state budgeting/policies and how they impact our community locally.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
I've spent the summer and fall knocking on doors and hearing stories, ideas, and concerns from families, neighbors and residents. Many feel this part of Fairfield is sometimes overlooked. I intend to continue to find ways to address our cost of living, quality of town amenities, supporting our teachers, police, fire and other first responders, continuing to drive down crime and traffic and take the stories, challenges and issues I've heard and provide strong constituent service and meaningful solutions for residents.

Lastly, I'm running to ensure that my son has the incredible upbringing in Fairfield that my wife, along with her parents, was able to enjoy and will continue to work hard so that your family--children and seniors--can enjoy everything our community provides.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
Bringing over eight years of local elected experience, some of my proudest moments in local government have occurred when working collaboratively on our budget, especially in the face of challenging economic times at both the state and national level. I've recently worked to fund initiatives for seniors, amenity and recreational upgrades, support traffic and speed reduction measures to protect pedestrians, given our teachers a raise to ensure our school district retains the very best and helped prevent cuts in budget proposals that would have impacted education--all while attending every RTM meeting during my term (including joining virtually the day after our son was born!). It has been an incredible honor to work and advocate for the people of the 6th district, fight for their neighborhoods and get to know so many kind people. I hope to earn your vote and to keep working for you.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
“Only a true natural servant automatically responds to any problem by listening first.”

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
My door will always be open and I'll always do whatever I can to help our neighbors and community. My campaign has been built on connecting with voters and hearing from them about the issues and values that are important to them. If re-elected, I promise to continue this approach and always listen to all sides and be accessible. I encourage voters and residents to always reach out if I can ever be helpful. Please feel free to email me at RobBlanchardRTM@gmail.com. I hope to earn your vote on November 4th.