Patch Candidate Profile: Paul Lundquist for Newtown Board of Selectmen

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:
Paul Lundquist

What office are you seeking?
Board of Selectmen

What town do you live in?
Newtown

Campaign Website

Party Affiliation:
Democrat

Occupation:
Managing Partner, YouGov/Harrison Group. A strategic marketing consulting and research services firm — started in Newtown in 1996, acquired by YouGov in 2010. I serve as a senior advisor to clients in a range of industries spanning high tech, interactive entertainment, finance and media.

Family:
I've been married to my wife, Elaine, for 27 years. We have two boys, Matt and Eddie, who graduated from the Newtown school system and now are in college in Vermont and living in the Boston area, respectively.

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
• Legislative Council (2011-2021); Chairman (2017-2021)
• Municipal Building Strategic Plan Committee, representing the Legislative Council (2015-2016)
• Fairfield Hills Master Plan Amendment Work Group (2012-2013)
• Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee (2010-2011)
• Legislative Council (appointed to fill vacancy, July ’09). Co-Chairman of the Board of Education and Municipal Facilities Management subcommittee

Why are you seeking this office?
I’m running because I believe my experience and perspective can add real value to the Board of Selectmen. I seek to bring a steady, reasoned voice to help ensure clarity, transparency, and public understanding around all the important issues facing our town. And I’m eager to contribute from the place where many of those issues begin -- with the First Selectman and the Board of Selectmen.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
I believe our most critical priority is safeguarding affordability for all. Even as we face challenging economic conditions, we must also provide our kids with an excellent education, support public safety, pursue smart growth, and care for our roads and facilities - all while preserving the rural character we value. Balancing these goals is essential, but affordability must remain at the center so we can all continue to make Newtown our home. As a member of the Board of Selectmen, I will scrutinize spending so that every tax dollar delivers the greatest possible value to residents.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
What sets me apart is both the breadth of my service to Newtown and the perspective I offer from a 30-year career in market research and consulting. My work has always centered on analyzing and synthesizing data, and making complex information understandable. That skill directly translates into how I approach public service. I work to improve transparency and to explain not just What decisions are made, but Why they are made and How we arrive at them. I believe transparency, education, and clear explanation are essential for building trust in local government.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
Helping to make responsible choices about smart economic development, encouraging expansion of the grand list to ease the burden on residential taxpayers.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
Over the years, in both elected office and volunteer roles, I’ve helped Newtown through some highly challenging times, including the tragedy on 12/14, severe storm damage and extended power outages, and the intricacies of COVID. I have also been fortunate to play a role in many of our successes, such as preserving open space, opening the new police station and senior center. I also take pride in helping to organize community events that help make Newtown special, like the Fairfield Hills Music Festival and the Newtown Earth Day Festival.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start. And along with that, hard work gets you where good luck can find you.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
Fun fact. For nearly all my adult life, I’ve played the drums in bands – from funk / R&B to classic rock to contemporary country. A highlight was playing in front of eight thousand people when we opened for Joan Jett. Another was being the crowd-favorite at a funk festival at the world-famous Toad’s Place in New Haven. Currently, I’m playing with the Flagpole Radio Café stage band (the next show is Saturday, December 6!). I need to find a more regular gig so I can remind my kids that I’m a musician and not just a guy with drums in his basement!