Patch Candidate Profile: Laura Miller For Newtown Legislative Council, D1

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: Laura Miller

What office are you seeking? Legislative Council, District 1

What town do you live in? Newtown

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Occupation: Principal at an alternative, special education school

Family: I am married to Peter Schwarz who is running for Planning and Zoning. We are heavily involved in Newtown and volunteer during most of our free time. We also play tennis, golf, and travel. We have 5 children, 1 grandson, and one senior pup.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? My husband is a current member of Planning & Zoning. He is running for re-election this year, too.

Previous public office, appointive or elective: I am a former member of the Board of Finance (2021-2023); I am currently a Legislative Council member (2023-2025).

Why are you seeking this office? I am a creative, strategic thinker who is not afraid to ask difficult questions of our government to ensure the best possible outcomes for our town. I actually enjoy hearing from residents, tackling town challenges, and being part of workable solutions.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is financial. We have a revenue deficit that has to be addressed. At the same time, I want to balance the needs and wants of our community and maintain the character of our beloved town. I intend to tackle our revenue deficit by finding alternative solutions to allocate our resources. I excel at analyzing evidence and critically evaluating complex issues before making informed decisions. I ask difficult questions of our government, consider many perspectives, and want to ensure the best possible outcomes for our town.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? I am a former Board of Finance member and an educator in charge of a school budget. Both of these roles helped me gain valuable skills in allocating resources, forecasting revenues, managing people, and planning for the future. I believe my role on the Legislative Council is to ensure that the town's government is managed responsibly, community needs are addressed, and residents have a voice in shaping the future of their town.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign? We need to address the infrastructure improvements facing many of our schools and town buildings. We have development issues looming. For example, the need for open space and smart development to help offset our revenue deficit is a constant disagreement among town residents and elected officials. I am a member of the Ordinance Committee. We have some pressing issues that will need to be addressed. The soliciting ordinance is not sufficient to allow for enforcement. Our Police Department is awaiting a Legislative Council decision on automated traffic cameras, and we have been asked to write an ordinance allowing the town to designate historic roads and land.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? As a member of the ad hoc Recycling Committee, I have spent 3 1/2 years in meetings and deliberations to reorganize the Transfer Station, create a more equitable cost-based waste disposal program, and to reconsider how we offer recycling services. We came to the difficult decision to remove Town-sponsored curbside recycling pick up as it was financially impossible to support. Initially, this was not a popular idea. However, when the budget to remove the curbside recycling costs went to referendum, the voters approved the decision. I didn't celebrate this decision, but I do believe that what makes a good public servant, particularly in terms of educators and political office-bearers, is the ability to operate from a premise of ideas and principles, not individual interests and partisan agendas.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you? The purpose of life is to stand for something, to be useful, to be compassionate. Above all, it is to make a difference.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I am seeking re-election because I love living in Newtown. I love being part of the messy, frustrating, stimulating, rewarding process. For me, building consensus is building a better Newtown!