Community Corner

Education, Economy the Focus at SEA Candidate Forum

November's candidates for local office took to the stage for the first time Thursday during a forum hosted by the Southington Education Association at DePaolo Middle School.

Education, economic development and teamwork were the key topics for candidates with the town’s Democratic and Republican parties Thursday evening during the first candidate forum of the season.

The candidates for Town Council, Board of Education and Board of Finance came together at the , taking on one major question presented by the Southington Education Association, which hosted the event.

“In coming years, these officials will determine how Southington will use its resources,” said association member and Southington High School teacher Daniel Hart. “How can we provide a 21st century education for our children? That’s what it was about here tonight.”

With a focus on continuing to move an already positive school system in a positive direction, both parties put an emphasis on the need for fiscal responsibility, planning for the future and putting the right resources in place to train Southington students for a changing global economy.

There was little difference between the two parties, with candidates for each focusing their answers on developing strong leadership and communication between boards.

“When we talk about team Southington within the Democratic Party, we aren’t talking about being a Democrat or Republican,” said Anthony Casale, Democratic candidate for Board of Finance. “This is about getting together and doing what’s best for everyone in the community.”

Both sides focused on teamwork, with Republicans focusing on leadership in place — they currently hold the majority on all three boards — while Democrats said they could continue to improve upon communication between boards.

While both sides touched on the importance of fiscal responsibility, Republican candidates including Town Council Chairman Edward Pocock III and Cheryl Lounsbury, both candidates for Town Council, touched heavily on the need for further economic development. The two said planning for the future through economic growth and implementation of a long-term capital improvement plan was the key to ensuring ongoing development of resources for education.

Pocock said the economic development and education go hand-in-hand, with a strong education system stabilizing housing and providing strong leaders for tomorrow who will come back to serve the town and strengthen Southington’s future.

“We have been able to grow the tax base in town by over $2 million in the past two years and it has allowed us to provide necessary resources for our schools while still meeting the needs of the taxpayers and keep the mill rate low,” Pocock said.

As each party had a chance to present a 60-second closing argument, however, Democrats had a chance to argue back with an emphasis on fiscal responsibility.

Council candidates John Barry and John Moise each questioned decisions made by the Republican Council, saying they spent money ineffectively in selling the North Center School for $1 and providing former Town Manager John Weichsel with health insurance for life.

Republicans have defended the motions, which were each approved by 7-2 council votes in the past year with Barry and fellow Democrat Anthony D’Angelo opposed, but Moise said it’s a type of spending that needs to stop.

“To truly prepare this town for a strong fiscal future and to be able to provide our children with the resources they need, we need to not only plan ahead, but be wise in our spending. That’s something I plan to bring to the council,” he said.


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