We reached out and asked candidates to respond to a set of questions; if a candidate did not respond, their name is listed, so that you know who is running for each office. Updates from all candidates are welcome and will be published as Letters to the Editor. The questions posed to the candidates were:
- Tell us a little about yourself.
- Why are you running for the position?
- What do you see as the important issues facing your town and how would you address them in your role?
- What are the key things you love about this town and its people?
- Additional thoughts to leave voters with?
Full Term
Steve Bayley (D): My wife and I moved to Haddam 10 years ago after we purchased a house and were going to start a family. I have worked in educational technology for the last 20 years and for the last 13 years, I have worked at UConn Health in the School of Medicine. I have a Bachelor’s degree in History as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration.
I am concerned about the financial success of the town of Haddam and its future financial challenges. Are we getting the best services for the price we are paying? Taxes had been flat but recently went up, are more services being offered, are better services being offered? Can the town afford to bond more projects without going further into debt? I know a majority of the town budget is the Region 17 school budget but I feel the town budget has been rubber stamped for a number of years without a real critical view if the best services are being offered at the best prices. Haddam has the highest marginal mill rate compared to local towns with either the same services or less services. I want to make sure our tax dollars are being spent wisely and if I am fortunate to be elected to the Board of Finance I will ask the hard questions and sharpen my pencil.
I want to make sure the town is offering the best services with the possible tax burden to the taxpayers in town. For example, the transfer station in town is open less often than other area towns although our mill rate is the highest, why is that? I know there is not one large expense or one large area that will lower taxes or stabilize taxes. It is a few dollars here, a few dollars there, oh that is only $500 that is not much in an $8-$9 million budget. I have experience with balancing budgets and will bring a fresh perspective to the town budget. Does the town have a full time paid fire and ambulance department? Does the town have a full time paid police department? Does the town provide curbside trash pickup or curbside fall brush/leaf pickup? Why does Haddam lack these services other towns may have with a higher marginal mill rate in Haddam? The town has run in the black (excess revenue and/or lower costs) for a number of years, why does the town over budget and not find that sweet spot of costs versus revenue and not overtax taxpayers? Finally, with the highest marginal mill rate of local towns, businesses will open up in other towns instead of Haddam. Look at the scarcity of filled store fronts throughout town, high taxes are contributing to those vacancies.
I love how everyone helps each other out in town and there is a strong sense of community. I have seen it locally in my neighborhood as well as throughout town. Recently, when a student tragically passed away, the community support was overwhelming to witness.
I also enjoy the rural setting of the town but still have Higganum Center and Tylerville in town for shopping, services and a place to eat.
Making sure the town of Haddam spends taxpayer dollars wisely will be my number one focus if I am fortunate to be elected to the Board of Finance. I humbly ask for your vote on November 2nd and thank you for reading this article.
Gigi Simko (R): The oldest child of a U.S. Navy veteran, retired Colonel Gigi Simko was born in Illinois and grew up in Guam, Italy, Connecticut and California. Gigi graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs with a Bachelor of Science in biology and commissioned as a Medical Service Corps officer. She earned a Master of Business Administration from Webster University, St. Louis. She completed a fellowship in force structure management in Arlington, Virginia, and is board certified in healthcare management through the American College of Healthcare Executives.
In August 2020, Gigi joined Connecticut Children’s in Hartford as a senior manager of practice operations. Prior to that, her active duty military career spanned 24 years. Assignments included Texas, California, Delaware, Ohio, Washington, D.C., England, and Florida. She deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Gigi served on the Board of Governors of the American College of Healthcare Executives from 2018 to 2020 and on regional boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Inc. in California, Delaware and Ohio. She also served as ACHE Regent for the Air Force and ACHE Regent-at-Large for District 6.
Significant Military Decorations: Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Matt McEwen (D)
Joseph Centofanti (R): I have served on the Board of Finance as an alternate and regular member for the past 12 years and have served as Chairman since November 2014. I am seeking reelection to continue serving the Town of Haddam. I have lived in Town for over 15 years.
I am a partner at PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP (a public accounting firm) with almost 35 years specializing in providing audit, consulting and forensic accounting services to cities, towns and state agencies. In addition to being a CPA, I am also a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Forensic CPA (FCPA), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) and a Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM). In addition, I was formally an adjunct professor at UCONN teaching Governmental Accounting and Auditing in UCONN’s graduate program.
Over my professional career, I have provided services to over 100 different municipalities. This has provided me with detailed knowledge of municipal operations and the challenges faced by cities and towns across the State. I assist towns on a daily basis with the same types of issues faced by the Town of Haddam and, therefore, am able to bring these solutions and strategies to the Town for consideration. Being on the forefront of the constantly evolving municipal environment, I am in a position to provide the Town information on a proactive basis to allow, where possible, the Town to address the ever changing environment we work in.
I am running for reelection to the Board of Finance to continue being part of the Team in building cost-conscious responsible budgets, rebuilding and strengthening the Town’s infrastructure while maintaining our strong financial position. Our strong financial position has allowed the Town to issue bonds at very low interest rates, to keep the tax rate flat for 4 years, and to limit the tax rate increase to be less than ½ of a mil for the 2022 budget. This financial strength and flexibility has allowed the Town to take advantage of opportunities as they arise and to provide support when needed to our Town’s residents.
The most important issue facing the Town is managing the Town’s capital and infrastructure needs. Some of the larger items are the community septic project, future use of HES, and the potential purchase of the Rossi property. Our capital plan also includes many other capital needs in the short-term, such as replacement of fire trucks, building maintenance projects, and continued improvement of our roads. This is balanced with continuing to ensure that supporting the operational needs of the Town’s taxpayers, including education, in a way that continues to minimize the impact on the taxpayer. The Town has received significant federal funding (ARPA) that, if approved, may allow the Town to further these projects and address some of the other capital needs included in the Town’s capital plan.
My role in addressing these issues as a member of the Board of Finance is to continue to work on both the operating and capital budgets and the related strategies to finance them. This will put the Town in the best position possible to meet the needs and wants of the community in an efficient and cost effective manner.
The key things about the Town and its people that has distinguished it from other towns is the community spirit and the willingness of the people to help others. In my experience, most times help is offered without being asked for. In addition, our location is such a beautiful place. Every time I tell someone where I am from, the first comment is that the area is beautiful. I tell them that it is not just the area, but the community itself that makes it an awesome place to live.
I have enjoyed serving the Town and sharing my experience and expertise as part of the Team that works to make our Town the great place it is to live. I feel that a lot has been accomplished in the past 6 years including an AAA bond rating, road improvements, updating our public works fleet, purchase of HES and other projects. The complexity of local government operations and federal and state requirements continue to increase. We have some challenges ahead as well as some great opportunities to make the Town of Haddam an even better place to live. I would like to continue to be part of the Team to help the Town navigate through the challenges and work to make sure the opportunities to improve the Town are accomplished. Thank you for your consideration and I would appreciate your support in November.
To Fill Vacancy for 2 years
Marjorie DeBold (D): My husband, Dick, and I moved to the Higganum part of Haddam 57 years ago. The town’s location, its country setting, and its caring population were important factors in our decision to settle here. It has been a continuing pleasure for me, first as an elementary school teacher in the local schools from 1968 to 1992. Early on I was eager to take an active part in town government; Haddam was small enough to depend on volunteers’ work to carry out many responsibilities and I wanted to be part of that action. Over the years I have been pleased to serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Finance, Board of Selectmen, Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Committee on Aging. I was privileged to serve as First Selectman from 1993 to 1997. I continue to be a member of several local organizations benefitting our town, the Haddam I call home.
Having been a member of the Board of Finance in the past, I recognize its role in establishing a budget to present to the townspeople for consideration, one that will meet the needs for running the town successfully, at the same time being one which will not overburden the taxpayers. It will be a pleasure to work with other members of the Board and the administration, building the budget and monitoring spending throughout the year. Of equal importance, I recognize that addressing future needs requires good capital planning. I believe the Board of Finance has an important role in working with others, planning for positive growth within our town, and making sure that proposed accomplishments be carried out in a judicious way.
Haddam is a wonderful place to live. Even so, there are some issues that need addressing. Some of the issues facing our town include:
- maintaining and improving the great quality of our schools,
- protecting our environment and educating our residents, sometimes through recreational programs, about the benefits of caring for the environment,
- providing a community septic system in the village part of Higganum that will allow greater commercial development to service the needs of our residents,
- finding appropriate uses for the closed elementary school and other unused public facilities throughout town,
- planning for successful resilience of the Tylerville area over the next few years, as major construction and change goes on there,
- keeping our roads in safe travel condition, and
- encouraging economic development that is beneficial to the town and, importantly, to its tax base.
Several of the above items have been suggested to me by fellow residents. I find it important to listen to the ideas of others; they are generally serious concerns. As a Board of Finance member I believe I will be part of a group that, working together, can help with the budgeting process, one that will facilitate beneficial improvements for our town, the Haddam I call home.
When we moved to Higganum I loved the beauty of the town, its abundant forest area, and the beauty of the old house we moved into. As I became part of the school system, I came to love the children I taught, their families, and the staff with whom I worked. I enjoyed having a village center where most of my day-to-day needs could be met. The friendliness of Haddam residents made me want to take part in making sure that things went well for us all. Indeed, I was amazed by knowing that so many townspeople volunteer in so many different ways, looking out for the health, safety and welfare of us all. I wanted to be, and still desire to be, an active participant of our town. I look forward to helping develop our town into one with an even better quality of life, the Haddam I call home.
It is a pleasure for me to seek to rejoin Haddam’s Board of Finance for a two-year term. And I ask for your consideration and your vote in November.
Alternate – Full Term
Sandy Olsen (D): I am essentially a lifelong resident of Connecticut. For 2 years I attended University of Maine at Orono, while living on an organic farm homestead. I returned to Connecticut, and in 1980 I started working for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. After 33 years of state service, I retired in 2013.
I moved to Haddam in 2008 and in 2020 I agreed to fill a vacant position on the BOF. I believe it was and continues to be important for me to step forward to serve our town. As a current member of the BOF, I have been attending the BOF virtual meetings and will be attending future ones in person. I am continuing to learn how to be part of a team that oversees the financial processes for the town, and will continue to seek and implement cost savings measures when possible, and maintain overview of the current budget. It has been a pleasure working with First Selectman McGarry and the other Board of Finance members to prepare and review future budgets. Haddam has to have high quality services at affordable costs, and this is my goal as a BOF member.
I have always enjoyed the beautiful natural surroundings of our state and especially the Connecticut River Valley. My love of walking, hiking, kayaking, and gardening continually remind me how blessed we are to live here in this community.
Mark Lundgren (R): I currently serve as an Alternate to the Board of Finance and would like to continue.
My ongoing goal is to be the Fiscal Conservative Voice that resonates what the Citizens of Haddam want and need. I also serve on Haddam’s Economic Development Commission and am the Secretary of Haddam Elderly Housing Corporation.
I am very concerned about the health of Tylerville businesses during the three years of construction coming up. And more long term, the need for more elderly housing. I have no doubt that the Board of Finance will be asked to help, at some point, with both these issues along with the yearly budgets needed to run our Town smoothly.
I have over forty years of experience in the managing of our Town, small business and elderly housing. Please vote for me, better yet please vote for the entire Haddam Republican Team.
Alternate – Fill Vacancy for 2 years
Jenny Law (D): I grew up in Haddam in the 70’s and 80’s. After college, I lived in New York, Pennsylvania and California then returned to Haddam in 2017. I love the change of seasons, the hiking, the orchards, the opportunity my kids have to see where I grew up and the ability for them to go to school at Haddam-Killingworth.
I spent 30 years working in the apparel industry. Many think it’s glamorous and there are fun aspects to it. But the day-to-day business is one where I had to work within strict cost margins in order to hit tight price points. My jobs required working across departments and also with our suppliers in order to produce a good product while keeping all concerned happy. In my last apparel job I managed a department of ten technical designers. This required juggling a lot of schedules, keeping many personalities satisfied and often getting the job done using some creative solutions.
Currently I work at Brainerd Memorial Library at the adult circulation desk. I love interacting with our patrons. It’s great to check in with people, learn about their experiences and of course, get them their materials. This past year and half during Covid has been especially challenging, but I have still connected with our patrons and hopefully kept them well supplied with books and media.
While living in California, my family survived the Great Recession through a combination of tenacity and disciplined budgeting. I know how to stretch money and spend it where needed, rather than on impulse. Having lived through a stressful financial time, I am circumspect when it comes to spending. While some expenditures are necessary, I will always fully consider the need.
Between when I left Haddam in 1988 and returned in 2017 I noticed that some things hadn’t changed at all while of course, some things had. I don’t recall having any pizzerias in 1989, so I view having a choice right here in Higganum Center a plus, especially coming from urban California where there seems to be infinite choice. Seriously though, in order for Haddam to grow and improve its mill rate, the town needs considered and intentional development. We have a fantastic natural setting, potential river access, great hiking trails and vacant buildings that could be utilized to help Haddam progress.
As an alternate for the Board of Finance, I bring native and outsider experience as well as a respect for budgets. I believe the Board benefits when its members come from various backgrounds and experiences. The Board also profits when new people join as those people bring a fresh perspective. I look forward to working with other members and helping to move Haddam forward.
Richard Wells Jr. (R): The reason I am running for Haddam BOF Alternate is I believe my qualifications are ideally suited to this role, as well as the fact that I have been very pleased to serve our town in this capacity during the past fiscal year.
I was a sales executive in the packaging, point of purchase display and supply chain industry for 38 years, retiring in 2018. Budgets and forecasts were a significant portion of sales administrative duties throughout my career so I found the BOF Alternate role to be familiar and intuitive. My desire to serve another term as a BOF Alternate dovetails well with a travel schedule that allows me to be available for most meetings, both web based and in-person.
Finally, as a Haddam resident since 1984, I very much enjoy serving our community in this capacity. It is a way to show gratitude for the outstanding living environment our town has provided to me and my family throughout the years.
