Patch Candidate Profile: Louis F. DiPietro, Jr. For Easton Planning & Zoning Commission

EASTON, 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: Louis F. DiPietro, Jr.

What office are you seeking? Planning & Zoning Commission

What town do you live in? Easton

Party Affiliation: Republican

Occupation: Digital Media Executive

Family: Yes, I am married to my wife Jessica since 2014, and we have an 8 year old son, Timothy (TJ), who is in third grade at SSES.

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective: Yes - I have been an alternate on the Planning & Zoning Commission since February 2022, and have been on the Republican Town Committee since March 2022 (Vice Chair Sept. 2022-March 2024)

Why are you seeking this office? I believe that Easton, being the rural gem of Fairfield County, needs to be responsible in protecting open space and our watershed. I understand that preservation vs. development is going to be the real battle here, and if the latter is to come along, we need to make sure it's done responsibly. Also, we have many regulations in Easton that need to be looked at and potentially modified to reflect Easton in 2025, which is much different than even the Easton of our last POCD in 2018, let alone when zoning regs were initially written.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it: Preservation vs. Development. I intend to make sure anything P&Z approves, and anything we change in terms of regulations or processes, is done responsibly and with a balance of those two in mind.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? I think our biggest difference is perspective. I am the only 'layman' on a commission full of members who work with or are affected by P&Z commissions (realtors, lawyers, construction management), and thus I look at things through the lens of the head of a young family invested in Easton's future personally, not necessarily professionally.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign? I intend to begin discussions on modifying some of our more vague or outdated regulations, help streamline the processes our ZEO uses to rectify violations, and most importantly, make sure everything we do is transparent so residents know where we stand and why we do things.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? I have been an alternate for 3 1/2 years, and have voted and deliberated on numerous important zoning decisions in that time, so I understand the commitment and the importance the position carries. I also have been intimately connected with Town Hall as a commissioner and member of the Easton RTC for four years, and as a digital media executive, understand all of the 'business' side of how we run things as well.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you? Two pieces of advice I carry in everything I do in life: 1) if you didn't give 100%, you failed everyone, but most importantly yourself; and 2) stand up for what you believe in, but always listen and respect others' beliefs and opinions as well.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I will always listen and take into account anything and everything residents say or ask in making decisions. I would be one of the few voting on issues, but my voice speaks for all 7,000 Easton residents, not just myself. And, as I have mentioned, I understand those who want to keep Easton the way it is, but also those who want our town to move forward. If we exhaust all efforts and make sure anything and everything we do is done responsibly with all residents in mind, we have succeeded.