SHARE

Fairfield Candidates Q&A: Josh Garskof

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 Josh Garskof, a Democrat running for re-election to the Representative Town Meeting in District 5.

Why should people vote for you?

I am a thoughtful, careful RTM member who pays close attention to the issues affecting our town. I don’t cast my votes based on party or politics. I follow my conscience and my understanding of what’s best for the town and especially the people of District 5. Bottom line is that I strive to be fiscally responsible while also maintaining the values and services that make Fairfield one of New England’s best towns.

What are the biggest issues facing Fairfield?

Finding the right balance between paying for necessities while limiting the burden on taxpayers is the biggest challenge the RTM faces. Our kids deserve excellence from our schools and our roads and buildings must be maintained to avoid far costlier wear and tear. But we’re also facing shrinking house values and a terrible economy. Many residents — especially those who are unemployed, underemployed or retired — cannot significant tax increases.

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?

Fairfield is going in the right direction, in large part thanks to our “natural resources” — our proximity to New York City, excellent housing stock, beaches and parks, and superb schools have shielded us from the worst of the housing crash and continue to attract new businesses. I’m proud that I’ve come to every issue with an open mind, supporting essential expenditures and voting against those I felt we couldn’t afford.

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

I am constantly talking to the people around me, from neighbors and members of my sons’ school community, to little league parents and residents who attend RTM and other town board meetings. Also, District 5 will continue to hold constituent meetings where residents are invited to come and speak to us as a group. And Fairfield residents are always welcome — encouraged — to contact me directly about any townwide or in-district issues, at 203-520-5053 or jgrtm5@gmail.com.

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.

There should have been a project manager and building committee overseeing the train station job from day one. Also, from the RTM perspective, it appears that a major contributing factor to cost overruns on town projects in general is that we’re often given inaccurate initial cost estimates, which mean that actual project costs come in higher. To that end, I support an overhaul of the process by which capital project approvals happen in Fairfield.

Find all of our Candidates Q&As here.

to follow Daily Voice Fairfield and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE