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Fairfield Candidates Q&A: Eric Sundman

FAIRFIELD, Conn. ? To help our readers prepare for Election Day, The Daily Fairfield sent five questions to each of the candidates on the November ballot. The following responses are from Eric Sundman, a Republican running for reelection to the Representative Town Meeting in District 1.

Why should people vote for you?

It has been an honor, privilege and pleasure to represent and serve friends and neighbors across District 1 on the RTM since 2007. I have the passion, drive, experience and financial acumen to effectively represent District 1 voters, particularly during times of economic uncertainty. During the past two terms, I have adhered to a fiscally responsible and balanced approach that has sought to invest wisely in our community for a better tomorrow while keeping spending in check. I live just a stone’s throw away from Pine Creek Beach and work in Southport Village. Accordingly, I am closely in touch with the pulse of the community and I am an active steward of our Town’s natural resources, character and charm. 

What are the biggest issues facing Fairfield?

Two issues: spending, and unfair or incorrect real estate appraisals and assessments.

Is Fairfield going in the right direction If you are an incumbent, what were your biggest achievements? If you are a challenger, what has your opponent done wrong while in office?

Regarding "Is Fairfield going in the right direction" ... it all depends on who you ask. The quality of our Education, Public Safety and Town Services continue to improve, but we have to continue to deliver the best services with what we can afford, being efficient, especially in these rough economic times. I don’t claim to have had a “biggest achievement.” They all have been little ones that go unnoticed to the general public, with credit due to the Department of Public Works, and the Police and Fire Departments. As Vice Chair of the RTM Public Works and Planning Committee I pay close attention to all things Public Works related. I have served as a voice of residents in District 1 that asked for help, whether it was to help bring attention to a neighborhood problem that needed resolution, to help save a local playground from being in danger of shrinking in size, to complaints about safety issues, environmental issues, beach issues, piles of unsafe debris that needed to be removed, etc. The real credit goes to people like the Department of Public Works Director Rich White and Police Chief Gary MacNamara and their departments, the Fire Department, and the quick responses and support from the current Selectmen and Selectwoman.

I am proud however, of my fiscally responsible voting record. Prior to all important votes, I would poll residents, weigh all emails of concern, listen to feedback at our District 1 Constituent meetings and do my best to vote with District 1 in mind ? but also how the vote would affect the Town overall. I would like to continue to work towards providing improved services to residents, for example, offer longer dump hours on Saturdays and include hours on Sunday ? looking for ways to accomplish this without spending more tax dollars. Also I envision a "Stop n Swap" area at the dump where we can utilize an expired modular building from a school, like other towns in New England, to recycle items that would reduce waste at our transfer station. I would promote controlled scavenging. People are busy and want longer hours. This is just one example of how we can and should improve services to residents.

What would you do to involve your constituents in your decision-making process?

Utilizing social media is incredibly important and it continues to evolve as more people get involved with using it. Along with my own website, our District 1 website, two Twitter accounts, @EricSundman and @SouthportGlobe, I started in 2007 publishing the daily website The Southport Globe, which focuses on hyperlocal content that relates directly to the Southport, Sasco Hill, Oldfield, Old Dam, and Pine Creek areas of town. I did this because in speaking with residents at the time I became a member of the RTM, they were frustrated in not knowing all that was going on in the District. Within the past two years, a growing number of constituents continue to email or text me their concerns. Regarding the involvement of constituents in the decision-making process: the most successful way I have experienced has been holding Community Meetings where there is open discussion, where issues are raised, resulting in problems being solved. I will continue to support organizing these meetings into the future by holding at least four per year, including a special pre-Budget meeting. These meetings were invaluable forums which kept us Representatives in touch with District 1 residents, enabling us to act, resolve, listen, and improve.

They were so well received and attended that going forward we want to hold them on a quarterly basis based on the feedback from everyone that attended.

How can Fairfield avoid another Metro Center, i.e., a project that goes severely over budget? What will you do to prevent it? Be specific.

Incorporating strict financial guidelines on any town project is imperative. Transparency and accountability is paramount; hiring the right people and quality project management with detailed reporting to the RTM from start to finish must be adhered to. No contracts of any kind can be made without the consent and approval of the RTM legislative body.

Find all of our Candidates Q&As here.

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