Meet the Republican: Cheryl Lounsbury

"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. 5, 2013.

This week, we are looking at the Southington Town Council candidates.

Name: Cheryl Lounsbury
Age: 67
Party, Board Seeking: Republican, Southington Town Council
Family information: Divorced, 3 children
Occupation, if applicable: Retired
Political Experience: Town Council, Southington Water Commissioner
Other Experience: Apple Harvest Festival chair, Bicentennial Treasurer, Literacy Volunteer, Church Finance Chair

Why did you run for office? 
I’m running for office because I believe that during these difficult economic times, we have moved Southington forward by hiring a new town manager, updating two school buildings, updating our town roads, increasing the Rainy Day Fund, while keeping our taxes the lowest they’ve been in recent years. I’d like to work to keep this trend going.

If elected, what would be your primary areas of focus?
My primary focus would be to continue to update the town’s much needed infrastructure – roads and sewers and maintain a strong focus on economic development. Past Councils, both Republican and Democrat have ignored our infrastructure because it is expensive and not exciting to the general public. However, if we don’t take care of our roads and sewers now, it will cost our citizens more money and inconvenience in the near future. I also firmly believe that to balance the tax burden this town is and will face, we must maintain a strong focus on economic development – economic development  appropriate to our town.

What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Southington today?
The biggest issue we face is planning future budgets when we have no idea how the state and federal government debt problems will affect our town. We know that we will lose services and funding, but what and how much remains unknown. Recognizing this issue and being disciplined enough to deal with it now is mandatory for our town leadership.

What skills do you have that you could bring to the community? 
I bring managerial experience from the private and public sectors as well as a deep knowledge of our town, its people and government. I have a love for this community and a sincere desire to maintain its unique character for our children and grandchildren.

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