Patch Candidate Profile: Debbie Aurelia Halstead For Newtown Town Clerk

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:
Debbie Aurelia Halstead

What office are you seeking?
Town Clerk

What town do you live in?
Sandy Hook

Campaign Website

Party Affiliation:
Republican

Occupation:
I have been proudly serving as your Town Clerk for over 18 years

Family:
I was blessed to have been married for nine years to the love of my life, Bill Halstead, who served over 44 years as Chief of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue, before his passing in 2022. Bill and I have five beautiful grandchildren between us, and I am the proud mom of two sons. My grandparents moved from Stratford to Newtown in 1953. Since then, there have been five generations living in, and enjoying our beautiful town!

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
Public service runs deep in my family. My late father, John Aurelia was a dedicated community servant who was elected to two terms on Newtown’s Legislative Council and served on the Commission on Aging for five years. My mother, Karin Aurelia, also served on the Commission on aging as treasurer, and as Newtown’s Republican Registrar of Voters for over 12 years.

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
I was hired by the former Town Clerk of Newtown, Cindy Curtis on Valentine’s Day February 14, 2005 as an Assistant Town Clerk. When Cindy retired in 2007, Herb Rosenthal, who was the First Selectman at that time, appointed me as Town Clerk on August 8, 2007.

Why are you seeking this office?
Even after 20 years, every day is different at the Town Clerk’s office — and that excites and energizes me. My mission is always to deliver the best service possible to Newtown’s residents, using my experience and education to implement cutting-edge technology, strengthen continuity operations planning, improve local government budgeting processes, enhance public relations, and disaster recovery planning. I am honored to serve this incredible community and will continue working tirelessly to make sure our office remains accessible, transparent, and efficient.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
Our Municipal budget. I have been diligent in being fiscally conservative and responsible for line items in my budget. To uphold these standards so our constituents are not burdened with increase cost. Throughout my over 20 years of service, my focus has been on modernizing services, increasing efficiency and improving accessibility without additional cost to taxpayers. As Town Clerk I apply annually for state grants to preserve historic documents and upgrade technology. To date, Newtown has been awarded over $192,000 to maintain records, repair vital historical documents, and modernize hardware and software.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I am active in my profession. I attend annual CT State conferences, Fairfield County meetings and monthly zoom meetings in order to stay current on legislative and procedural changes that impact our office, ensuring smooth, consistent operations. I also believe education is essential to strong leadership and effective governance. Over the past 20 years, I have earned every accreditation available in my profession including Certified Connecticut Town Clerk, (CCTC), Master Connecticut Town Clerk (MCTC) as well as Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) and Master Municipal Clerk (MMC), which are both designations recognized internationally. In addition,

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
As we look ahead, our community faces a time of rapid change and opportunity. Technology continues to evolve, transforming the way we work, communicate, and serve our residents. I will continue to be at the forefront of these advancements, and in the coming months, our town website will be transitioning to a new platform. I will be leading this effort and will be seeking public input as we move forward to make sure the changes made reflect what our community really needs and wants.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
Since I was elected in 2007, my focus has been on modernizing services, increasing efficiency and improving accessibility without additional cost to taxpayers. Some Major Accomplishments are:

1. Land Records Modernization
I collaborated closely with our software vendor to have all maps and land records dating back to the 1700s accessible online. During the pandemic, the public was able to view and purchase land records online 24/7. This service has generated over $118,000 in revenue since 2020.

2. Online Dog Registration
Residents can now conveniently register their dogs online as previously they would need to come into the office and or mail in their payment.

3. Fraud Alert Registration for Land records
We collaborated to add a system to help protect residents against fraudulent activity, to save time and better assist with reporting.

4. VitalChek online services
Includes Town of Newtown certified copies of birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage records. You may order certified copies of Town of Newtown vital records through VitalChek on an expedited basis.

5. Historic Documents Preservation Program
As Town Clerk I apply annually for state grants to preserve historic documents and upgrade technology. To date, Newtown has been awarded over $192,000 to maintain records, repair vital historical documents, and modernize hardware and software.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
That it only takes a split second to smile, yet to someone that needed it, it can last a lifetime.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
Outside my town clerk duties, I am passionate about Newtown and supporting my community whether it is supporting the fire department serving lobsters at Lobsterfest or supporting our four-legged family members at the rabies clinic and more: 1.) Active Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Ladies Auxiliary member 2.) Member of Newtown’s Citizen’s Emergency Response Team (CERT) 3.) Mentor for Newtown High School Career Center intern program 4.) Seventeen years and counting coordinating the Low-Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinic 5.) Relay for Life Captain — Led the award-winning “TC TEAM” which raised $2,500+ for cancer awareness 6.) Volunteer assistant for Meals on Wheels year-end financial audits 7.) Support Relay for Life 8.)Host and coordinate receptions for local charities and community organizations