Glenn Frishman for Board of Finance November 2

​As we approach our upcoming Election Day on November 2nd 2021, I wanted to make a direct appeal to the voters seeking your support.

I have had the honor to serve you on your Board of Finance for the past 27 years, and Chaired this Board for 18 of those years. Seeing this Board go from an appointed to an elected one, Stonington has benefitted from the Triple A Bond Rating these Boards have worked so hard to maintain. I have been committed to ensuring the maximal bang for the buck, and have been unwavering in ensuring that fiduciary responsibility from the Department Heads serving our community is demanded.

I chose to run for Re election as I fear an inflationary recession could be on the horizon. As a Grandparent of triplets, I know the pain at the gas pump we are all encountering, and the increased cost the supermarket visit makes. These pressures on Stonington families no doubt will make tax dollars needing to be reviewed increasingly closely. I have never shirked my duty to you to ask the difficult questions, and as an adult who transitioned from active military service to return to my native Stonington in the late 1970s in equally troubled economic times, have the experience to protect the individual taxpayer and our community. I have never forgotten the lessons learned in those difficult times. I am prepared to use them to negotiate these difficult days and inflation.

Always whether friend or no, I have ensured that money allocated for town is vetted thoroughly. Those that take that path often can become considered unpopular and controversial. I pledge to you that appointed or elected I will present a thoroughly vetted budget for your approval. Never seeking unnecessary tax funds that, I fear, will be increasingly scarce as we collectively recover from the Covid 19 Pandemic. Our town must spend and plan wisely for an uncertain fiscal future fraught with potential peril. I am committed to protecting the individual household as I am the town. We are all in this together.

This candidate is not afraid to take tough stands on issues. Recently I was not in line with my party leadership in my opposition to the Fixed Tax Assessment for the Campbell Grain Mill. I saw that as not worthy of town financial subsidy and saw my fiduciary role trumping party loyalty. I applaud the informed taxpayers of Stonington for demanding their voices be heard. My stances always dictated on what I truly believe is best for our town and never forgetting those tax funds are precious to those raising families and on fixed incomes.

In my next four years I will seek to drive these following issues in Stonington to successful resolution. I believe they are priorities that will put the future of our town on a path that will keep it the special community that it is.

1. There is an issue with the Pawcatuck Water loop that must be fixed. Water pressure has to be uniform throughout a Fire District to ensure our fire services can fight fires and protect lives and property. I have worked closely with Pawcatuck Fire Chief Kevin Burns to address this town risk management issue that ethically I refuse to ignore. Our homeowners and business owners in this village need this issue addressed.
2.  The Old Mystic Bridge has been closed far too long. Like Pawcatuck this infrastructure deficiency is unacceptable.It puts brave volunteer firefighters at risk and I have given my word to Old Mystic Fire Chief Ken Richards that we will get this long overdue project completed. This needs to get done.
3.  Coastal Resiliency is a controversial issue but I see an opportunity to put an emphasis to repair the flood gates in Pawcatuck, and study and likely acquire this infrastructure in Mystic and Stonington Borough. While we can disagree on degrees of climate change, we can find common ground on preparing for Hurricane threats. This is expenditure with a clear return on investment as it protects our Grand List. I look forward to working bipartisanly to address.
4.  We need to insure we fund our schools adequately to ensure our kids have an education that allows them to compete in the modern job market. Although I have always held the hard fiscal line, I have never not supported needed school projects based in need and maintaining our Grand List. Based on needs and affordable wants, we have maintained great schools for our kids AND a low tax rate by regional comparison.

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As always I am willing to listen and weigh all opinion. I am not ashamed to say I am a fiscal conservative. My record shows I always put Stonington first, care deeply about our working families and seniors. I'm eager to advocate for these needs and humbly ask for the honor of your vote.

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