Community Corner

Meet the Democrat: Kevin Conroy

A look at Kevin Conroy, Democratic candidate for Southington Planning & Zoning Commission.

"Meet the Candidates" is a feature on Southington Patch designed to help you get to know your local candidates before you take to the polls this November. Each profile was submitted directly by the candidate.

Take a moment to review each profile so you can be informed and prepared when you go to the polls on Nov. 8.

This week, we look at the Planning and Zoning Commission candidates. Be sure to look back at the Town Council, Board of Finance and Board of Education profiles featured during the past three weeks and stay informed.

Name:
Kevin Conroy
Age: 40
Party, Position Seeking: Democrat, Southington Planning & Zoning Commission

Occupation:
Civil Engineer

Political Experience:
Southington Conservation Commission, 2005-2011

Other Experience:
My recent professional experience has been as counsel to municipalities and other public organizations to develop strategies and infrastructure to support positive growth. These efforts include design and planning studies for the proposed UConn research park; town center enhancements; Safe Routes to School initiatives; Plans of Conservation and Development; traffic mitigation; pedestrian safety policies; and roadway safety projects.

I hold a degree in Civil Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and am licensed in the State of Connecticut as a Professional Engineer.  I am a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Institute of Transportation Engineers.

Why did you run for office?
I have had the opportunity to work with a wide range of communities all along the Atlantic coast. Each had its own unique challenges but shared a common goal of making life better for its citizens.

Their successes depended on creating a long-term vision for their community and their ability to use the various tools available to them.  Having grown up in Southington, I wanted to share my expertise in areas that I believe could be beneficial to the community.

If elected, what would be your primary areas of focus?
My goals are to see that Southington is well positioned to attract economic development that adds value to our community, protects our environment, supports our local businesses and preserves open space by promoting complementary commercial, industrial and residential uses.

What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Southington today?
In the past two generations, Southington has grown from a few village centers supporting industrial and agricultural land uses to a fully formed community with larger commercial and residential components. In the very near future, important areas of town will begin to reach the end of their useful lifespan. To preserve our community must develop a vision and incentives to spur new economic growth on these aging sites, as open land becomes scarce.

What skills do you have that you could bring to the community?
With two decades of experience in planning and preserving municipal and institutional infrastructure, I can offer expertise in many areas related to site plan development such as traffic mitigation, storm drainage, flood control, pedestrian safety, and construction.


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