Candidate Responses to GuilfordPACT Questions

In early October, we sent the following letter with three questions to each candidate and incumbent. The text of the letter follows...

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MEMORANDUM

To: Candidates for elected positions in the Town of Guilford on November 3, 2009; and Incumbents who will remain in elected positions in the Town of Guilford following the November 3, 2009 elections

From: Guilford Parents & Citizens Together (GuilfordPACT)

Date: October 8, 2009

Re: Voter information

GuilfordPACT is a non-partisan citizens' group focused on increasing participation of Guilford voters in the political process for issues affecting education. Our mission is “to advocate for education by increasing community and political involvement in Guilford.” We are a registered Political Action Committee.

GuilfordPACT’s steering committee plans to provide a “voter’s guide” (in both printed and electronic formats) to its members and supporters containing the candidates’ and incumbents’ views on issues of importance to GuilfordPACT’s members during this campaign season. GuilfordPACT’s steering committee has drafted the following three questions, and we invite you to submit written responses, which will be shared with our members and supporters, included in our "voter's guide," and posted on our website (www.guilfordpact.org). The information you provide will allow our members and supporters to make more informed choices at the polls on November 3rd, and we thank you in advance for taking the time to educate us on your views.

We look forward to receiving your responses.

Questions:

1. Do you support the construction of a new high school as approved by the Board of Education in 2008? If yes, please describe what you would do in your role on the [B.O.E., B.O.S., B.O.F.] to support the passage of the referendum. If no, please describe what modifications need to be made to the current proposal in order for you to support it.

2. What will you do in your role on the [B.O.E., B.O.S., B.O.F.] to ensure drafting of a town & education budget which meets the needs of the town and schools of Guilford AND is likely to be approved by the voters in a referendum?

3. As things currently stand, the town and education budgets are growing at a rate which exceeds the growth of the grand list. In your role on the [B.O.E., B.O.S., B.O.F.], what steps will you take to address this growing gap between budget expenditures and tax revenues?

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Answers to these questions will be posted as we receive them. The candidates' responses are not edited by PACT. Presence of a "link" on a candidate's name below indicates that the candidate has provided answers to PACT. Click the relevant link to view the candidate's answers.

UPDATE (10-21 1:37 PM): the Guilford Republican Town Committee has forwarded to us this group response in lieu of individual positions on the above questions.

First Selectman

Gary MacElhiney - D
Joe Mazza - R

Board of Selectmen

Cindy Cartier - R
Charles Havrda - R
Mike Sessine - D
Veronica Wallace - D

Board of Finance

Kimberly Brockett - R
Sandy DiLieto - R
David Egan - R
Lou Federici - D
Ken Gamerman - D

Board of Education

Keith Bishop - R
John Ireland - R
Alan Meyers - D
Chris Moore - D
Susan Renner - R
Linda Sanacora - R