2025 Patch Profile: Tony Morrison, Southington Town Council

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

Tony Morrison is running for the Southington Town Council as a Republican.

The following is Tony Morrison's questionnaire sent to Patch:

Candidate's Name: Tony Morrison

What office are you seeking? Town Councilor

What town do you live in? Southington

Party Affiliation: Republican

Occupation: Retired. Previously Global Database VP, SAP.

Family: Wife Mindy (47 great years), daughters Sara and Raya, grandchildren Finn and June.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? None

Previous public office, appointive or elective: Board of Finance, 2017-23; Town Council, 2023-25.

Why are you seeking this office?

I have served Southington in various capacities, board, council, and committees, for the last eight years.

I love the town, and my belief is that if you want to improve the world, you need to sweep your own doorstep first.

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

This is very important for the health of our town.

For example, 48 percent of the grand list growth was from businesses this year.

Since COVID, our grand list regarding businesses has grown at less of a lower rate than before.

This needs to change to ensure we keep the balance we have enjoyed of great services coupled with tax increases among the lowest in the region.

I will drive and support initiatives to extend current business or develop new businesses as appropriate.

These are both areas where we have been successful as a Republican council in the last two years.

Please note we will enjoy a serious uptick in the grand list next year due to the five-year property revaluation, which will increase the grand list dramatically as it catches up with inflation.

I will insist that this be set aside for a tax decrease.

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

There are no real differences between me and other Republicans.

We are all aligned on a platform of what needs to be done and the means to achieve it.

There are serious differences with the folks from the Democratic Party.

In short, we have a platform and plans for the town, and they do not go beyond statements such as cut taxes while increasing spending.

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

Republican technology plans began this term with the building out of a robust connectivity platform.

As our IT director described, we have built the roads on which our cars (applications and other capabilities) can run.

Already, we have seen many cost-saving efficiencies due to the integration of various applications, and employee time saved, which enables them to concentrate on more important tasks.

I will push for this to continue with the use of newer technologies such as AI for increased service delivery, cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, and residents' queries.

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

1. As a high-tech executive for companies such as Gartner and SAP running multi-million dollar global organizations, I have developed significant management, organization and financial skills.
2. As a dedicated elected town official, I have served on the BoF, Council, and seven different committees.

This has given me a well-rounded knowledge of the town - its complexity, its challenges, how it is run and funded, and how it can be improved.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The world does not owe you a living. It was here first. (Thank you, Mark Twain)

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

I am a fiscal conservative, as I strongly believe that if you get the money right, you have 50 percent of what is needed for a successful organization.

The rest is judgment on what you do with the money.

And here I believe strongly that you must be willing to invest in key infrastructure, technologies, and critical services.