Patch Candidate Profile: Keith Alexander For Newtown Legislative Council District 2

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: Keith Alexander

What office are you seeking? Legislative Council District 2

What town do you live in? Sandy Hook for over 30 years

Campaign Website

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Occupation: Principal Software Engineer (35 years)

Family:

married to Elizabeth
father to Claire & Scott (Newtown graduates)

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective:

Legislative Council Chair since 2023
Board of Finance Member 2017-2021, Chair 2020-2021
Board of Education Member 2010-2017, Chair 2014-2017

Why are you seeking this office? I am running for reelection to Legislative Council to continue to work on policies that sustain our safe and compassionate community with an eye towards property values and educational excellence.

Newtown continues to be a quiet yet vibrant community, but that’s not easy to manage. We are constantly balancing between supporting our existing roads, programs, and buildings while ensuring that we keep a steady tax base to avoid putting the burden solely on homeowners or local business.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it: Cost of living. There is no way around it in Connecticut, local taxes provide the majority of local government income. Our management of those funds has to ensure we provide the services needed across the community. As costs for those services have gone up, we must continually evaluate needs to avoid over-burdening taxpayers.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? Along with the other democrats running for reelection in District 2, Jordana Bloom and Eric Paradis, I agree on working to support the town, safeguard our schools, protect residents' rights and work to ensure that our town remains affordable.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign? In order for Government to continue to work for citizens, it needs continual upkeep. During our next session, the Legislative Council should continue work on Ordinances and look at Charter changes to help streamline Town processes.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? I have become practiced in approaching each issue with a broad view, to assess the details before coming to a conclusion about what I believe is best for Newtown. Being fully informed on items brought before the Council including thorough review of Budget Books, Ordinances, and financial transfers is the best way to ensure that the Legislative Council can be responsive to the needs of the community. As Chair, I work to ensure all Members understand the process and issues, and have a chance for input during debate.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you? Raise your hand when offered the chance to do something new. You already know what you can do, find out what else there is.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions? It's hard to think locally when so much goes on that seems beyond our control, but local decisions matter. Newtown recently had a community discussion, through the Legislative Council, on how to manage free speech. The community overwhelmingly recommended against the "management" of free speech when questions arose related to protests and rallies, and the Council followed that recommendation.