2025 Patch Profile: Gayle Harris, West Hartford Town Council

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

Gayle Harris is running for the West Hartford Town Council as a Republican.

The following is Gayle Harris's questionnaire sent to Patch:

Candidate's Name: Gayle Harris

What office are you seeking? Town Council

What town do you live in? West Hartford

Campaign Website: https://www.whgop.com/

Party Affiliation: Republican

Occupation: Physician for 30 years

Family: I have four beautiful children and two beautiful grandchildren. My parents still live in West Hartford. I have two brothers and two sisters

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective: I am currently a Board Of Education member in West Hartford

Why are you seeking this office?

I believe that West Hartford can do better. I grew up in this town and attended our public schools. I have lived here almost my entire life.

I believe that the town is becoming generally unaffordable.

I also believe that we are overdeveloping our town at a rapid pace, which does not serve the interests of our citizens.

Crime in West Hartford has also become a concern, when it was not in the past.

I would like to try to change course so that West Hartford remains vibrant and retains its unique character.

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

The rapid pace of development in a short amount of time is concerning.

The current development is mostly made up of high-end units that are not serving hard-working middle-class citizens and our younger generation.

Instead of helping people afford a starter home in West Hartford by increasing the supply, we have dense overdevelopment of units that are mostly unaffordable to the average citizen.

I have received many emails as a Board of Education member from families who were forced to move out of West Hartford because they could not find suitable housing that they could afford.

These distraught parents are now requesting that their children remain in our schools even though they were forced out of town by skyrocketing rents.

If you care about your citizenry, you would be working to help people own affordable homes, rather than building high-end units that only serve a small segment of the population

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

I believe in smaller government and affordable housing for our town.

I believe we are here to serve our constituents and preserve the small-town vibe that West Hartford has always had.

I believe people move to our town for our schools and our small-town feel.

When you are building at breakneck speed, you are going to impact citizens, which is what is happening currently.

The current leadership is determined to make every issue about President Trump, but President Trump has only been in office for seven months.

The leadership of this town has been in office for decades, so they need to own what has happened and what is happening to our town in terms of affordability, overdevelopment, and crime.

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

I think we need to address crime and road safety in town.

The Jewish community has seen an uptick in antisemitic vandalism, and there needs to be a strong united response to this hatred that has started to seep into our town.

We have also seen more crime and vandalism in town in general. We have amazing police and fire departments. We need to support them as we try to reduce the crime and vandalism in town.

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

I have spent four years on the Board of Education in West Hartford.

I have worked with colleagues of both parties collaboratively. I believe that most citizens want our elected officials to work together for the betterment of our town and schools.

People generally do not want to see radicalization on either side. When we work together, we will get better results.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

I'm not sure it's the best advice, but it's certainly good advice: Don't make any important decisions under stress.

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

I am a hard worker, and when I take on a job, I will do my best to help those I've taken an oath to represent.

I have been able to work with those on both sides of the aisle during the last four years at the Board of Education.

I believe we need change in West Hartford, and I hope you will consider supporting me on Nov. 4.