We reached out to both the Haddam Republican Town Committee and the Haddam Democratic Town Committee and asked candidates to respond to a set of questions. Updates from all candidates are welcome, and are being published as Letters to the Editor. Bob McGarry is a candidate for Haddam First Selectmen. The answers from the other candidates can be found HERE.
The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper.
I’ve been in leadership positions and responsible for delivering government services my entire adult life. I graduated from the Coast Guard Academy with a degree in Civil Engineering and served on active duty for 20 years. Retiring as a Commander in 1996, my wife Vivienne, our two children, Travis and Amanda, and I moved back to Haddam and settled in Haddam Neck. Since returning, I’ve held positions as a Director at Northeast Utilities, a consultant to various government agencies and private companies, and as a senior manager with two state agencies. I’m currently an Associate Professor at Post University teaching in the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Department.
I believe in giving back to my community. I’ve been a member of the Haddam Neck Fire Department for 22 years and its Chief since 2002. I’ve been on the Board of Directors for the Haddam Neck Fair since 2005 and volunteer with the East Hampton Ambulance Association. In 2016, I was elected to the Board of Finance where I serve to this day.
I’m aware of the challenges faced by small businesses and know how important they are to our community. I owned a consulting business and currently Vivienne and I own Cold Goats Farm, raising sheep and Angora goats.
Viv and I love Haddam. We find its natural beauty very calming in our hectic lives and something we need to be careful to protect. It was a great place to raise our children in large part due to the quality of our schools and the recreational opportunities here. We enjoy family friendly events like the Haddam Neck Fair and River Days and enjoy seeing the community come together to make those events happen.
As a community, we’re facing many complex issues made more difficult by the degree to which they are intertwined.
- Infrastructure – We all know our roads are in bad shape but it’s more than roads. It’s time to address the sewer/septic issue in Higganum Center and there are concerns about water supply there as well. We need to make all three centers, Higganum, Haddam and Tylerville, more accessible and inviting; sidewalks are a step in that direction.
- Emergency Services – While this issue isn’t as prominent as the others, it is as or more critical. Our volunteers do a great job but all volunteer emergency services are walking on the ragged edge of disaster all the time. The number of volunteers is decreasing while the workload and training requirements are increasing. We have to take steps to ensure the continued viability of our fire departments, ambulance association and emergency management department and be prepared with alternatives.
- Higganum Center –All of our centers need attention but Higganum Center is at a particularly critical point. The purchase of HES, the relocation of the town garage, and the Scovil Hoe property present opportunities and challenges. We need to develop a comprehensive plan for Higganum Center and to start taking steps to implement it. The Plan of Conservation and Development provides a good start but there are new conditions to address and we need a more tactical plan.
- Finances – As I’ve said, all of these issues are intertwined. We have to address them with a fiscally sound approach. Even without addressing the above issues, funding our capital needs over the next few years is going to be difficult. I don’t want Haddam to be a wonderful place that no one can afford to live in. I don’t want to pass debt on to our children. We need to develop a financial plan that meets our needs and takes advantage of the opportunities presented us without breaking the bank.
I’m running because I have the breadth and depth of experience and qualifications needed to address the issues we face and to deal with the day to day management of the town. My campaign slogan, “Listening, Learning, Leading” describes my leadership style. Listen to those involved, Learn from what they say and Lead them forward. It’s an approach that has worked for me for over 40 years to bring disparate groups together and solve problems that appeared insoluble. I’m sure it will help us make Haddam a better place. Respectfully, I ask for your vote.
Bob McGarry
Haddam Neck, CT
