Candidate profiles: Prospect Town Council Republicans

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Election-Icon-2013The Citizen’s News asked candidates running for office four questions. The following are their responses.

Alexander A. De Lelle

Age: 73

Party: Republican 

Occupation: Retired Aerospace Engineering

Past political posts: Planning and Zoning Commission (11 years, vice chairman, four years)

Alexander A. De Lelle
Alexander A. De Lelle

Why are you running for Town Council?

“I am running as part of a team to enhance, grow and preserve the rural character of Prospect.”

What, if anything, do you feel needs to be improved about town government and how will you fix it?

“I feel it is important to provide more transparency of town business using today’s technology.”

How will you balance the needs of town government with the needs of taxpayers come budget time?

“Supporting the town’s requirements for capital expenses while working to control and keep local taxes low is one of my goals.”

What will be your goals and priorities if elected?

“I will support the construction of the new elementary school and encourage more open space land for public use.”

Thomas Galvin
Thomas Galvin

Thomas J. Galvin

Age: 64

Party: Republican 

Occupation: Retired banker (before it was a bad word)

Past political posts: Planning & Zoning Commissioner (seven years); Town Council Chairman (six years)

Why are you running for Town Council?

“Prospect needs strong leadership, and in this complex world that’s not a one person job. I’m proud to be part of the strong team that represents all of Prospect.

What, if anything, do you feel needs to be improved about town government and how will you fix it?

“I would like to see more people get involved on a positive basis. Too often some individuals focus only on the negative, often without offering better alternatives. I want to generate more participation from folks who want to keep Prospect ‘The Best Small Town in Connecticut.’”

How will you balance the needs of town government with the needs of taxpayers come budget time?

“We need to make sure that we keep our local taxes as low as possible and that Prospect gets the maximum value for every dollar spent.”

What will be your goals and priorities if elected?

“Society today at all levels has become divisive. We need to realize that we’re all in this together. I want to make sure that every resident feels involved in the process and that everyone is truly treated fairly.”

Douglas Merriman
Douglas Merriman

Douglas Merriman

Age: 77

Party: Republican 

Occupation: Retired educator

Past political posts: Town Council (1983-1997, 2001-present, Chairman, 1987-1997); Region 16 Board of Education (1977-1981)

Why are you running for Town Council?

“I’m running to help continue the balanced needs of the citizens and the reasonable expenditures to fulfill their needs.”

What, if anything, do you feel needs to be improved about town government and how will you fix it?

“I believe a major problem is the lack of attendance, specifically at Town Council meetings. We have been fortunate to have three or four loyal attendees at our meetings and no one else for many months.”

How will you balance the needs of town government with the needs of taxpayers come budget time?

“I have been involved in town government for 32 years — 28 on the council. All nine members of the council, with the leadership of Mayor Chatfield, who presents a lean budget every year, present to the citizens a budget with little wiggle room and we still have a surplus — a small one.”

What will be your goals and priorities if elected?

“To continue as stated above, complete Scott Road upgrade and assist Region 16 in its new school project.”

Stanley Pilat
Stanley Pilat

Stanley J. Pilat

Age: 62

Party: Republican 

Occupation: Self-employed biomedical equipment technician and driver for OptiCare Eye Health

Past political posts: Presently vice chair Town Council; vice chair Republican Town Committee; Chairman Region 16 Building Committee; Past: chairman Region 16 Board of Education, chairman Inland/Wetlands commission.

Why are you running for Town Council?

“I look at serving on the Prospect Town Council and other committees as an opportunity to give back to a community that has been very good to my family and myself.”

What, if anything, do you feel needs to be improved about town government and how will you fix it?

“Keeping our taxes low, services dependable and policies reasonable and understandable makes Prospect a desirable place to locate a business.”

How will you balance the needs of town government with the needs of taxpayers come budget time?

“The needs of the taxpayers and their ability and willingness to fund local government are what should always drive the bottom line of our town budget.”

What will be your goals and priorities if elected?

“Always tell and be willing to explain to the taxpayers what we are doing with their hard earned money on their behalf.”

Jeffrey Slapikas
Jeffrey Slapikas

Jeff Slapikas

Age: 50

Party: Republican

Occupation: Self-employed contractor

Past political posts: Town Council (two terms), Zoning Board of Appeals (11 years)

Why are you running for Town Council?

“I want to see the town head in the correct direction, and I believe the experience the town has in office now is a positive.”

What, if anything, do you feel needs to be improved about town government and how will you fix it?

“I would like to see all parties work together for the common goal of good leadership. Too much party politics does no good for the town’s people.”

How will you balance the needs of town government with the needs of taxpayers come budget time?

“The same as we have the last two terms I was in office. Keep the spending to a minimum to run the town without hurting the needs of the people.”

What will be your goals and priorities if elected?

“I would like to push to get more involvement from the people during budget time not just at the end when a few people want to shoot it down. Too many people vote for or against something with no knowledge what so ever of the topic.”