Patch Candidate Profile: Christopher Gardner For Newtown Legislative Council, District 1

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: Christopher Gardner

What office are you seeking? Legislative Council, District 1

What town do you live in? Newtown

Campaign Website

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Occupation: Director of Communications, Yale School of Medicine, 10 years

Family: Wife, Kathleen; Children, Andrew (24) and Caroline (20)

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective: Newtown Legislative Council (elected) since 2021; Newtown Board of Finance (elected) from 2019-2021; Borough of Newtown Board of Burgesses (elected) 2012-Present

Why are you seeking this office? I am a lifelong Newtown resident and am completely invested in the future of our community. I have seen it grow from a rural town with dirt roads and farms to a bustling suburb that is struggling to manage development pressures and remain affordable for all residents. As Chair of the Legislative Council's Finance Committee I have worked diligently with fellow Council members to identify efficiencies so we can minimize the tax burden on our residents. Affordability is a top concern of mine, and I have a strong history of working with other elected officials, regardless of party affiliation, to maintain services while controlling costs. I hope to continue this work on behalf of all residents in District 1 and every resident of Newtown.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it: Affordability. We have to work together as a community to identify our priorities. What services do we want to maintain? What services do we want to add? Are there services that we can forgo or reduce to help with our collective tax burden? I always listen to other people's opinions before I give my own. We have to continue to find that balance between providing services and maintaining a competitive tax rate that has been Newtown's tradition for generations. I enjoy that challenge and want to continue to serve our residents in this capacity.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? I bring the experience and perspective of having lived in Newtown my entire life and having served on both the Board of Finance and Legislative Council. In a prior career as an investigative journalist I was twice honored by New England's largest press organization with first place awards for finding waste in local government. I know how to identify efficiencies in our government.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign? Maintaining the quality of our schools, improving the condition of our roads, and making sure our public safety organizations (police, fire, and ambulance) have the resources they need to safely do their work. This fiscal year the Legislative Council supported the addition of one more police officer to our force. We must continue to invest in our fire companies and our ambulance service. These are staffed by volunteers. We need to recognize their commitment to our community and continue to value the good work they do.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? I have been through six budget cycles as an elected member of the Board of Finance and Legislative Council. For the Borough of Newtown I have participated in more than a dozen annual budget reviews, and I have greater responsibilities as Senior Burgess on the Borough of Newtown Board of Burgesses. I am also past Chairman of the Board of Newtown Youth and Family Services. I have coached youth sports in Newtown and my children went through the Newtown Public Schools. I have lived and breathed Newtown my entire life and am completely invested in the community and my Council district.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you? Listen before you speak.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions? One really important volunteer job that I have in Newtown, and one that I take immense pride in, is "Keeper of the Flagpole." I coordinate all maintenance of our town flagpole in the center of town and annual flag donations by Newtown Lions Club and Newtown Hardware. When the flagpole gets sideswiped I go out before dawn when there is no traffic and touch it up. We all take pride in our flagpole and it is very important to me that we keep it looking great. As for positions, I am open-minded and very fiscally responsible.