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. Kate Anderson is a candidate for Haddam Board of 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.
Hi there! My name is Kate Anderson, and as a lifelong resident of Higganum, I’m so excited to continue my community service by running for the Board of Selectmen. Some of you may remember me from HK Park and Rec after school and summer camp, where I worked for almost ten years throughout high school and college. A 2007 HK graduate, I received a full scholarship to study at Central Connecticut State University where I graduated magna cum laude and from the honors program with a BS in business marketing.
By day, I work as a marketing and proposal specialist in the architecture/engineering/construction (AEC) industry. Over the last seven years, I’ve coordinated responses to over 300 proposals for engineering and construction services for a myriad of municipalities and private companies in Connecticut and across the US. I’m also serving my second year as Secretary for the Connecticut Chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) and my first year on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Economic Development Association (CEDAS).
After work, you’ll often find me at a town meeting or at home working on a project. I’m currently Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, Secretary for Infrastructure and Charter Revision Committees, and a member of the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) Implementation Committee. I’ve worked on projects including revitalizing the Farmers Market, decorating downtown for the holidays, helping to coordinate River Days, and more. I enjoy staying busy and on top of all that’s happening in Haddam!
Growing up in town, I’ve seen many changes over the years – some good, some not so good. And I’ve always believed you need to “be the change,” so when I found the opportunity to run for Selectman, there was no answer other than “yes!”
My background and skillset offer unique qualifications to run for BOS. Important to Haddam, my AEC industry work has given me the opportunity to see how different municipalities think and operate. I’ve also gained interpersonal and organizational skills needed to coordinate people, information, and resources, and I’ve connected with a healthy network of professionals with a variety of experience and knowledge. Most importantly, though, is I have learned to listen, and listen with an open mind. Haddam has a lot to say, and I want to hear it all!
We’ve seen great progress in some projects such as bringing clean water in Tylerville, road reconstruction and paving, and securing environmental clean-up grants for historic properties, among others. But we need to keep our momentum moving and continue building on this progress. We have some vital decisions to make on projects coming up that will affect us for decades such as repurposing HES, finding a new town garage site, cleaning up Scovil Hoe, and finding a use for our historic jail – all while balancing a budget and maintaining a manageable mill rate.
I’m looking forward to working with the BOS and all town boards, departments, committees, and commissions – with public input from our community every step of the way – to develop both short- and long-term plans for areas like infrastructure and economic development. These plans would cover topics like road maintenance, capital planning, and strategies to support existing and new small businesses – but the important part is that all these strategies align with the charm, character, and vision of our quaint town.
One of a community’s greatest assets is the people who reside there, and Haddam is home to some of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met. Sure, there are disagreements and differing opinions, but we all share one common goal: to do what we think is best for our town. My hope is that you’ll research and get to know all your local nominees and vote on November 5 for the best, most qualified candidates. And maybe even join a committee if you have the time; so much of what happens in municipalities falls on the shoulders of volunteers, and we always need more! I’m confident that Haddam has a bright future, and I hope I will earn your vote to help lead the way – together.
Sincerely,
Kate Anderson
PS: See a recent video of Bob McGarry, Republican candidate for First Selectman: HERE.
