The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper.
I have had the pleasure of working with Cathy Iino since I was elected First Selectman of Chester in 2015. As First Selectman, Cathy is responsible for a continuous review of Killingworth’s current and future needs: fiscal, personnel, infrastructure and budgeting, as well as the daily operations of the town. In addition, she is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide for and ensure the safety of residents and their families. We have all seen this firsthand, as a little over a year ago both of our towns were dealing with downed trees, blocked and washed out roads, and severe flood damage to property caused by unexpected flash flooding. In the aftermath, Cathy was ever present, ensuring immediate response and rapid repair.
On top of her daily attention to local needs, Cathy has served tirelessly in leadership roles working for regional agencies and organizations. She was elected by her fellow CEOs and served as the first Chair of the 17 town Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments (RiverCOG) when it formed in 2012, and she was reelected for an extra year at the end of her term. Under her leadership, RiverCOG thrived as a regional organization and as a bipartisan meeting ground for local first selectmen. In addition, Cathy is a director of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (which serves all 169 Connecticut municipalities), and is a member of the Middlesex Revitalization Commission. Her inspired and dedicated work with all of these organizations benefits and enhances the quality of life and legislative protections of our beautiful towns. Across party lines, we all have tremendous respect and appreciation for Cathy’s leadership, knowledge, and experience.
On a personal level, Cathy serves as a role model for myself and other municipal CEO’s. Her insight and thoughtful approach to problem solving, balanced and cautious spending of taxpayer dollars, and compassionate response to resident needs show that she is a true asset to Killingworth. Anyone who has worked with Cathy knows that she is completely dedicated to the best interest of your town and that she will continue to serve with integrity and dedication.
Lauren Gister
First Selectman, Chester
