Patch Candidate Profile: Donald Mitchell For Newtown P&Z Commission Alternate

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:
Donald Mitchell

What office are you seeking?
Planning and Zoning Commission Alternate

What town do you live in?
Newtown

Party Affiliation:
Democratic

Occupation:
Attorney

Family:
I live in Newtown with my wife, Claudia. We have five grown children with lives and families of their own.

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
Attorney for Newtown’s Charter Revision Commission (c. 1980); Member and Chair of the Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission. Alternate Member of the Borough Zoning Commission

Why are you seeking this office?
I hope to continue my efforts to make Newtown’s land use process and its decisions increasingly more principled.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
Housing Affordability. As part of the zoning commission, I will help in modifying our regulations in a fair and reasonable way to make housing less expensive. That is about the only thing that ‘Zoning’ can do to help. But that effort can not be one-sided. It has to be balanced against the needs of the town and its people.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I have substantially more experience and institutional knowledge of land use matters and land use litigation than other candidates.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
Housing affordability, longer-term planning, greater public participation and greater transparency in Newtown’s land use matters.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I’ve had a successful career as an attorney, including 37 years representing the Borough’s Zoning Commission and successfully defending over 25 land use appeals in all of Connecticut’s courts. I’ve also had years of experience as a Member and as Chair of Newtown’s Planning and Zoning Commission.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Aside from my grandfather’s advice, which I won’t repeat, the advice I’ve come to rely on most is that there are always two sides to a story, and maybe more.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
We need more public participation in our government, and we need more young people willing to do the hard work required to be an effective official.