South Windsor Candidate Profile: Erica Evans, Town Council

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — The 2023 municipal election season is heating up in South Windsor, and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

South Windsor Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Name: Erica Evans

How old will you be as of Election Day? 44

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://swdems.org/2023-candid...

What city or town do you live in? South Windsor

What office are you seeking? Town Council

Party affiliation: Democrat

Education: Bachelors in English Literature from Western New England, Certification in Special Education from Southern CT State University, Masters in Reading and Literacy from Southern CT State University, Certification in Reading Consultancy from Southern CT State University, 3 credits towards Administrative Endorsement for Educational Leadership from Southern CT State University

What is your occupation? Special education teacher, mother, small business owner

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

I am married to Kevin who is a lifelong South Windsor resident. His mother still lives in South Windsor in the house where he grew up. We have three children, Greyson (9), Tanner (7), and Phoebe (5) who are all proud PV students. Our family has two dogs, Preston and Toby, and two cats, Moana and Heihei.

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

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Board of Education, South Windsor 2017-2019, Town Council, South Windsor 2019-present

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I continue to seek a role on our Town Council to continue to drive positive change for our community. Because of my three young children, I find importance in being forward-thinking in the best interest of South Windsor for all generations but keeping in mind the future of our town for those who will live in and enjoy it long past our lifetimes. I am passionate about creating a welcoming community for all regardless of gender, race, age, socioeconomic status, etc. Our community should be one where we all feel welcomed and celebrated as residents and individuals. It is because of my strong beliefs and values that I promise to continue to work for the residents of South Windsor to maintain our amazing community while simultaneously pushing for positive change.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is \_\_\_, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is cost of living. I will continue to work alongside my fellow elected officials to make South Windsor a place where all generations can afford to thrive. We have amazing schools, great offerings from our town departments, and dependable resources for our everyday living such as trash and leaf pickup. We are a community that has grown, especially with families and we need to continue to meet the needs of those families as well as all members of our intergenerational community. I will always support our schools and their needs, but also continue to make smart decisions about our town budgets that make sense for our community. I am thankful that we have had bipartisan support for our town budgets in my tenure and I look forward to continuing that in my work on the Town Council.

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

My involvement in politics has never been related to personal gain and I also work hard to consider the views and interests of others in my decision making process and ongoing discussions as a Town Councilor. I have also worked hard to maintain smart balanced budgets for our town and to support the needs of our community members.

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

As we have worked hard to do throughout my time on the Town Council, I will continue to advocate for all of our elected officials to maintain a high level of transparency.

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

Through my time on the Town Council I have worked for the betterment of our community. I worked to secure a grant for our Covid Memorial at Major Michael Donnelly Land Preserve. I collaborated with community members and through the previous work of many to bring forward the vision of others in the development of the Art Commission and Social Justice Racial Equity Commission.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The best advice anyone ever gave me was to listen to others. I have incorporated this advice into my daily life as well as my role as a Town Council. I always appreciate and enjoy hearing from and listening to community members.

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

I have always been an advocate for those who need the most help finding a voice. From a young age, this was innate in me and it has continued throughout my life. I am proud to continue to speak up for all in our community and advocate for those in need.