Patch Candidate Profile: Jeffrey Beatty For Guilford Board Of Finance

GUILFORD, 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 the town.

Candidate's Name:
Jeffrey Beatty

What office are you seeking?
Board of Finance

What town do you live in?
Guilford

Campaign Website
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Party Affiliation:
Independent

Occupation:
Attorney for nearly 35 years

Family:
My wife, Lee, and I have three children.

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
I am finishing my third term on the Guilford Board of Finance. I also served on the Guilford Board of Ethics, including several years as its chair.

Why are you seeking this office?
I have enjoyed being a member of the Board of Finance and am seeking a fourth term to continue providing essential services to Guilford's citizens in a fiscally responsible way.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
The single most pressing issue facing the citizens of Guilford is the preservation of the spirit of cooperation and sense of community in our town. During my term on the Board of Finance, I have worked with members of different political parties to come up with collaborative solutions to address the Town's fiscal needs.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I have three terms of experience serving the citizens of Guilford on the Board of Finance and have worked with the Boards of Selectman and Education to come up with practical solutions over a wide variety of economic cycles. I have spent most of my life in Guilford and worked in town for nearly 30 years. Those experiences have given me a unique perspective and the issues facing Guilford's citizens and business owners.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
The continued fiscal health of our Town. Particularly addressing the immediate fiscal health of our Town while planning for the future.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
During my time on the Board of Finance, I have worked with my fellow board members to deliver reasonable, well-crafted budgets that have allowed the Town to efficiently provide essential services in a changing economic landscape.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Always try to keep an open mind, because good ideas often come from unexpected sources.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
Growing up in Guilford, after elections were over, it was difficult to know the political affiliations of board members. They viewed doing what was best for the Town, including the preservation of its sense of community, as the most important part of their job. They did not act based upon national agendas or party policies. I have tried to continue that practice during my time on the Board of Finance.