Patch Candidate Profile: Kevin Kosty For Shelton Alderman

SHELTON, 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:

Kevin Kosty

What office are you seeking?

Board of Alderman Ward 2

What town do you live in?

Shelton

Campaign Website

Party Affiliation:

Democrat

Occupation:

Senior Technical Support Specialist

Family:

I have a wife, Mandipa, and our son, Zachary, who will turn one year old later in November after the election.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

None.

Previous public office, appointive or elective:

Previously held the position of 2nd Ward Alderman in 2023.

Why are you seeking this office?

When I previously served as alderman I was frustrated that very little of the City Side of Shelton's budget was discussed in public. The Board of Education provides a detailed budget book and presentation every year with stated goals and updates on past achievements. The City should have the same. The performance of the Water Pollution Control Authority may not be a topic people engage with as strongly with as our schools but it's pretty critical to modern life and our ability to sustain economic growth in the City. The State warned us that multiple sewer districts are overloaded and two pumps in the Bridgeport Ave district, supporting many businesses, were replaced in emergency aldermanic votes the past couple years.

Beyond sewer transparency it should also be readily apparent what programs are being supported by the Parks and Recreation budget. There should be plans for how to expand offerings of different classes to be more interesting to various demographics. Shelton has an older population that was attracted by our advantageous mill rate. If we’re going to keep attracting people we have to plan for the next generations who will live in Shelton; young people, working families, and newly retiring Gen Xers, all looking for different amenities than baby boomers.

Capital expenditures are submitted by every department as part of the budget process. There should be more discussion in open meetings of the Board of Alderman about the need for those requests, which are getting funded, and the timelines.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:

The single most pressing issue I've heard when talking to voters in my ward is the lack of infrastructure planning around development and how to tackle the traffic, parking issues downtown, sewer capacity and other issues that are building. We need alderman who are willing to admit there is a problem and work with various stakeholders to address it. I know that there is a willingness to work on the issue in the private sector, but they need partners in Shelton government, representatives that will press the state on road issues, and a commitment to planning for continued, but logical, growth.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I was the only one that voted against the 2023 -2024 budget as it underfunded the Board of Education. I was proven correct when the Board of Education was forced to lay off teachers before the end of the School Year because of that budget. Shelton must be able to meet contractual obligations for wage increases and healthcare for City and School employees that we were warned were coming.

Keeping taxes low requires being realistic and transparent about how much money the City is taking in and the true cost of running the departments. Too often we’ve seen Republicans in office underestimate costs and run up large deficits in all levels of government. Shelton currently borrows the maximum the Board of Aldermen are allowed by Charter every year. It costs more to catch up on bills and repairs than it does to plan ahead and tackle issues when things break down. Getting out of a deficit spending habit is what I and the rest of the Democratic team wish to bring to Shelton Government.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Shelton must address the need for affordable housing for seniors and young working families in Shelton.

Proper maintenance or public buildings and equipment.

Public access to the Riverfront, rather than selling it all off to private development.

Work with the railroad company on reopening Wooster Street at the Canal Street intersection. It is a danger to residents and emergency services to only have one way in and out of Canal Street.

Make sure we have public input from youth and families on the development of a new Shelton Skate Park and splashpad.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I served in this role in the past and proved to voters I knew the budget and where it was lacking. I also responded directly when residents called about issues such as the leftover stones from street resurfacing being washed into people's yards in the neighborhood off Coram avenue.

Becoming a father since the last election has also given me an even greater desire to see Shelton be the best City it can for young families. And making sure we have a properly funded school system.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

That when someone asks you how to solve a problem it’s best to help them come up with an answer themselves rather than simply tell them how to solve it. And true leadership comes not from knowing the right answers, but know how to give others the tools to find it.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Ignoring infrastructure improvements leads to higher taxes years down the road, along with more potholes this year. The City budget can be so much more than a list of revenues and expenditures. Other municipality budgets state goals for why money is being spent, not just how much. We can get Shelton's bond rating back up by building a budget stabilization fund, or rainy day fund, similar to what has worked for the State of Connecticut and delivered the 2 largest tax cuts in state history.