Patch Candidate Profile: Steve Stolfi For Newtown Legislative Council - District 1

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: Steve Stolfi

What office are you seeking? Legislative Council - District 1

What town do you live in? Newtown

Campaign Website

Party Affiliation: Republican

Occupation: Currently, I work as an executive at an edtech company focused on student safety and well-being. Previously, I served as President and Chief Commercial Officer for 24 years at a leading global company specializing in brand protection and clearance solutions.

Family: My wife is Kristen and we have two daughters, Caroline and Jessica. Our dogs are Maggie and Hawley, named after Hawley school in Newtown.

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective: No

Why are you seeking this office? I am a 26-year Newtown resident and care deeply about our present and future. Our town’s taxes and population have increased in recent years, while our open spaces and woodlands are decreasing. I’m confident that my experience in building and growing businesses through strategic, results-driven investments can help the Legislative Council and our town operate more efficiently and effectively. Our town just passed a budget that includes an historic tax increase—one that our town’s seniors and working families simply cannot afford. With so many already struggling to make ends meet, this increase was unnecessary and out of step with the needs of our community. I will bring fiscal responsibility and creative solutions to the Legislative Council and do more with less. I’m committed to working hard for my district to enhance town services—especially after a year when some were scaled back.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it: How we manage growth and maintain our infrastructure. Residents want to preserve the character of our town and our open spaces, while ensuring our schools, roads, and public safety resources are modern, reliable and able to support future needs. My children attended Newtown public schools, and my wife and I saw firsthand the exceptional quality of our teachers, administrators, and educational programs—assets we must continue to support and preserve. I intend to work with fellow council members to prioritize smart investments, improve efficiency in how projects are managed and make sure every tax dollar we spend strengthens both our quality of life and long-term stability.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? I am truly an “outsider” with no political experience. I have built companies in my successful career through hard work, understanding, collaboration, and fiscal responsibility. While I haven’t yet served on the Legislative Council, I bring a wealth of business experience and a fresh perspective that I believe will be valuable assets to our community. Serving the community means listening closely, making thoughtful decisions, and following through on my commitments.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign? Traffic noise and congestion have become growing concerns for District 1 residents. As I set out on this campaign, I’m committed to listening to constituents and working together to develop a plan that makes a real difference. With District 1 located near I-84, noise levels continue to rise—and when accidents or backups occur on the highway, traffic is often rerouted onto Route 25 and our neighborhood roads, creating unsafe conditions and increased congestion. We need to think of better ways to reduce traffic and speeding and continue to invest in our amazing volunteer fire companies and our ambulance services, as well as ensure our police department has the resources they need.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? I have overseen budgets in excess of $50M annually and significantly grew my previous company’s valuation through judicious acquisitions and investments. I have consistently stayed within budget in all the departments I’ve overseen in my 30+ year business career. In addition, I have won numerous business industry awards for high performance and have been published and quoted in many industry publications. I was also President and Chairman of the board of a company that employed 2,000 people in 30 countries investing in employee development and continuing education. I’m a member of the Newtown Lions Club, active on several committees and have coached youth sports in town.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you? Agree to disagree and always listen and try to put yourself in the shoes of the opposing position.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions? Partisan politics have never defined me. I value respectful dialogue and believe that people from different political backgrounds can come together to serve the greater good. Some of my closest friends hold opposing views, and our conversations are always rooted in mutual respect.

My wife, Kristen, and I moved to Newtown 26 years ago, when our now 28-year-old daughter was just a toddler. Though we both grew up in Connecticut, we weren’t familiar with Newtown at the time—but we quickly fell in love with the town and its people. Over the years, we’ve built lasting friendships and become deeply connected to our neighbors. Kristen became a local realtor about a decade ago, and she’s proud to help families discover the charm and warmth that make Newtown so special.
We truly believe it’s nicer in Newtown. It’s where we’ve built our lives, and it’s where we hope to stay for many years to come. My mother and father-in-law recently moved here as well, further deepening our family’s roots in this community.

I want to see Newtown continue to thrive, and it would be a privilege to serve on the Legislative Council to help make that happen