Patch Candidate Profile: Charlie Gardner For Newtown Selectman

NEWTOWN, 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 their towns.

Candidate's Name:
Charlie Gardner

What office are you seeking?
Selectman

What town do you live in?
Newtown (Sandy Hook), Connecticut

Campaign Website

Party Affiliation:
Republican

Occupation:
Attorney (16 years)/Research Fellow (2 years)

Family:
Married to Kathy, with sons Charlie (13), James (11), Henry (6) and George (4)

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
Legislative Council (elected 2021, served 2021-2023 as Vice Chair, and on the Ordinance Committee and the American Rescue Plan Working Group); Board of Assessment Appeals (appointed 2019, served 2019-2021); Zoning Board of Appeals (appointed and served 2017).

Why are you seeking this office?
I'm running alongside First Selectman Jeff Capeci because Newtown needs practical, responsible, and energetic leadership to address our current challenges. Jeff and I have a proven record of working together on the Legislative Council to budget responsibly in the near term and plan effectively for the long term. To me, forward thinking is essential, and as a dad with children in our Newtown schools, my goal is to contribute toward building a strong foundation for the future of our town and its residents.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
Affordability. Home prices in Newtown have risen over 70 percent since 2020, rentals are scarce and more expensive than ever, while the last two years have seen major budget increases that have translated into steep property tax hikes. This situation hasn't just burdened residents' finances, it has forced some of our friends and neighbors to leave the town they loved and called home in search of available housing.

Indifference to the housing crisis and the impact it has had on our fellow Newtowners shouldn't be an option. We talk about local control, but with that control comes local responsibility. Together with First Selectman Jeff Capeci, I intend to work to expand housing options and grow our grand list through a focus on smart projects like the reuse of Fairfield Hills. We'll work to attract businesses that will add jobs and strengthen our commercial tax base, easing the tax burden on residents. We'll also explore options for enhancing town revenue and reducing town expenses through innovative programs like the recent installation of solar panels on the Municipal Center.

A town's affordability — including all the elements that go into the cost of living — is a challenging issue that's affected by factors beyond our town borders and even state borders, but that means it's time to roll up our sleeves and do what we can with the authority, resources, and expertise that we do have.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
Other candidates have pointed to the importance of good planning, but I bring experience both with conservation and housing policy through my professional experience, education, and volunteer work. This includes time spent as volunteer and intern with organizations like the Nature Conservancy and a state land trust, and in a professional capacity as an advisor to towns and cities on smart land use.

I've also worked directly with First Selectman Jeff Capeci previously when we both served on the Legislative Council (Jeff as Chair, and me as Vice Chair), which is not the case for our opponents. That existing relationship will enable us to get going quickly and collaboratively on behalf of Newtown residents.

Finally, as a dad with children in three of Newtown's public schools, I'm personally invested in the quality of our educational system, as well as the safety of our roads for drivers and pedestrians. A safe community isn't just one with low crime, but where all residents — including those who can't drive — have options for moving about in safety. The future we build together should be one that improves the quality of life for people of all ages.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
The tragic death of Pete Blomberg last year underlines the need for action on safer streets. Sidewalks, safe crossings, and well-designed streets that deter rather than encourage speeding aren't just a nice amenity, but an essential part of a community that looks out for all of its residents. Other Connecticut towns and cities like Fairfield and New Britain have embraced a "Vision Zero" pledge of dramatically reducing motor vehicle injuries and fatalities, and I'll propose that Newtown consider doing the same.

Additionally, in the debate over conservation, we've somehow lost sight of our town's agricultural heritage and those farmers who in spite of pressures from development have continued to carry on that heritage. Our land use planning and conservation strategy needs a vision for how to support our farmers and farmlands that goes beyond the modest tax relief that's currently available.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
As Legislative Council Vice Chair, I worked with then-Council Chair Jeff Capeci on many of the same issues that remain salient today. Along with Jeff, I was proud to be part of the bipartisan majority of the Council that approved seeking historic tax credits for the Fairfield Hills campus. On the Ordinance Committee, I assisted in drafting traffic safety ordinances, and as a member of the American Rescue Plan Working Group, I advocated for using ARP funds for sidewalk expansion and critical infrastructure improvements that have brought lasting benefits to Newtown residents.
My professional experience as a Connecticut attorney gives me a familiarity with state and local statutes and ordinances, and my more recent work in land use provides me with an understanding of the crucial importance of good municipal planning and zoning policy.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
That I should go ahead and propose to Kathy! We celebrated 16 years in August.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
My wife Kathy and I have been proud to call Newtown home for the past nine years and love raising our boys in this beautiful and neighborly town. I'm proud of my previous service to the town, and am grateful for the opportunity to continue to build on what makes it special alongside First Selectman Jeff Capeci.