2025 Patch Profile: Kevin Beal, Simsbury Board of Selectmen

SIMSBURY, CT — Simsbury Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Kevin Beal is running for the Simsbury Board of Selectmen as a Republican.

The following is Kevin Beal's questionnaire sent to Patch:

Candidate's Name: Kevin Beal

What office are you seeking? Selectman

What town do you live in? Simsbury

Campaign Website http://www.simsburygop.com/kev...

Party Affiliation: Republican

Occupation: Nonprofit Executive

Family: I'm married to my wife, Kate, a graduate of the Simsbury public school system and the same schools where our two daughters currently attend.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? My wife, Kate, serves as a volunteer elected member of the Simsbury Zoning Commission.

Previous public office, appointive or elective: I was elected to the Simsbury Board of Selectmen in 2023. Before moving to Simsbury, I lived in Northfield, Vt., for 17 years, and for part of that time I was also a local elected official serving as a Village Trustee, which managed local utilitie,s and subsequently on the town Board of Selectmen managing the town budget.

Why are you seeking this office? It's important to give back to this community that has given my family so much.

I was raised on the principle that public office is a public trust.

It’s a job that requires leadership — the ability to set aside differences and work together with all parties, including our own neighbors, fellow board members, and our highly competent town staff, who all together should put Simsbury first.

I think that I can continue to do that for Simsbury with another term on the Board of Selectmen.

My style in the last two years has been to be “aggressively reasonable.”

I will always advocate for what I know is right and in the best interest of the town, and I’m willing to work together with my peers who might have a different viewpoint.

Voters deserve leadership with experience who can work together, build consensus, and get things done.

In Simsbury, we have excellent services, but a rising tax burden that needs to be brought under control.

We have a AAA bond rating, but the cost of debt service year-over-year is putting significant pressure on our local residential property owners, who disproportionately bear the largest share of this significant burden.

We need leadership that can make the tough decisions on what we need to spend, and where, to keep this community a special place, but also one where the people who live in Simsbury can continue to afford to stay in Simsbury.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it: Simsbury needs to maintain it's local control over what happens here, protect it's open space, and address the increasing cost burden borne by homeowners.

I plan to continue advocating for these issues.

Over the last term, I have taken action in these areas, including advocating for reduced spending in the budget process, while ensuring the important investments in infrastructure and services that make Simsbury a special place.

I voted to protect our open space by standing up to a misguided majority that attempted to facilitate illegal development on Meadowood land that voters protected at the referendum in 2021.

I will continue to advocate for Simsbury's right to control what is built and where, and not have that process circumvented by special interests, predatory developers, or an out-of-touch state government.

On all of these issues, I’m willing to work together with my peers who might have a different viewpoint, but I will always advocate for what I know is right, and in the best interest of the Simsbury.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? I think there's a lot we all have in common--and that's that we care about our town.

There are many items that we agree on, and many votes on the Board of Selectmen end up unanimous because there is a lot of work we do together to build consensus.

That's a good thing, and something I think most residents expect of their elected officials.

But there are clear differences, sometimes, in how we go about getting things done for Simsbury.

My previous public experience, my understanding of local government, experience leading teams in an enterprise environment, and my service in Simsbury have been an asset over the last two years.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign? Two areas I haven't already mentioned have to do with personal interests of mine, which I have contributed to during my service on the board.

Throughout my first term, I sought opportunities for energy efficiency as a means for municipal cost savings through my liaison with the Sustainability Committee.

I also worked with a selectman colleague, the town manager, and the police chief to support active and inclusionary efforts like awareness training for law enforcement and residents, to support and empower people with disabilities.

These are two of the exciting and unique things where I've been privileged to play a part.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence that you can handle this job? Simsbury residents should know that your Board of Selectmen is at a critical juncture.

Just this year, at the June 2025 meeting, a surprise motion that favored building on Meadowood unfortunately passed overwhelmingly by the majority.

I voted along with only one other selectman to protect open space and prevent illegal development on Meadowood land.

This all happened because of a misguided effort on our board.

Voters had their say in 2021 at a referendum, and the board tried to undo that vote in June this year.

Members eventually realized this was a mistake, but took no other action.

We needed to fix the record.

At the September regular meeting of the board of selectmen, I moved to reconsider that earlier action by the majority of the board, and I'm happy to say that this vote was unanimous, and I appreciate my colleagues on the board for being open to reconsideration.

My understanding of how government works and the importance of due diligence in our process before taking action is an asset that I bring to the table.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

"To take your work seriously, but not to take yourself too seriously." This advice is meant to be humbling, and has served me well in my personal life, in my professional life, and in my time on the Board of Selectmen.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions? We need strong leadership to keep Simsbury the amazing community we know and love.

That’s why I ask for your vote to support the team I’m running with, including Heather Goetz for First Selectmen, for Mike Paine and Ed Matteo, and to re-elect me, Kevin Beal, to the Board of Selectmen.

I’d like to work with all of my neighbors to protect this wonderful community, because I think it’s worth fighting for.