Hamden Election 2025: Douglas J. Foley Running For Legislative Council

HAMDEN, CT — The 2025 municipal election is heating up in Hamden with plenty of races on the ballot.

Voters will cast their ballots in the Nov. 4 election for mayor and town clerk, along with seats on the legislative council and board of education.

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

Douglas J. Foley is running for election to the Hamden Legislative Council as a Democrat. He is also endorsed by the Working Families Party.

What office are you seeking?
Legislative Councilman-At-Large

Campaign Website

https://linktr.ee/foleyforhamd...

Party Affiliation:
Democrat (Row A) and Working Families Party (Row C)

Occupation:
11 Years in Music Marketing and Events

Family:
I do! I have a wife, Katherine, and a 10 month old son.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
No.

Why are you seeking this office?
My motivation to run is, in part, because I want to play a role in creating a town that works for my son and all young people who stand to inherit the decisions that we make in the coming decade. I’m not running for council because I have all of the answers but I am committed to asking questions and doing my part to find consensus around our paths forward.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
Housing. Housing is unaffordable because our taxes are high in Hamden, rent is rising quickly, and ownership is unattainable for many. To deal with this issue, I plan to encourage development, especially of affordable and deeply affordable housing. I am also going to encourage the next mayoral administration to explore joining the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority, starting on a new comprehensive plan for Hamden, and to hold landlords accountable for vacant, blighted, or under-utilized properties.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I believe that my peers have a wealth of experience and knowledge in public sector and non-profit work. I believe that I'm set apart by my private sector and start-up experience. Additionally, being experienced in a creative industry will provide me an opportunity to speak into cultural and artistic affairs of our town.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
Hamden needs to focus on creating a long-term vision and goals for our town. I plan to encourage that. I also believe that environmental sustainability needs to be at the center of our decision-making and our education system needs to focus on whole child success, not just test scores.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I believe that my experience as a people-manager is the best evidence of my strength to take on this role. I've led a team responsible for managing $1 million in monthly revenue, and my efforts have supported musicians topping both the Billboard and Pollstar charts. When a former employer made the decision to offboard my team and shut down our operations, I played a key role in negotiating a smooth transition and acquisition, one that allowed sixteen people to keep their jobs and ensured continuity for our existing clients.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
"The train doesn't stop." Explained briefly: The work will always continue so you need to keep up with your teammates or risk being left-behind.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
Over my career in music, I’ve worked in marketing, advertising, and sales. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how best to create and super-serve the communities that exist around musicians. I say this because I hope that we can create a community around issues that we care about, driving positive change and non-partisan engagement. I may be a Democrat but I want you to know that I take seriously the need to dialogue regardless of affiliation.