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Collaboration, Action, and Compassion

“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” This is a well-known, anonymous premise that Matt Hoey’s father instilled in him as a child. Matt’s unyielding integrity is why so many of us support him for first selectman.

Matt is a collaborator, not a polarizer. Under his leadership as Board of Finance chairman, 19 bipartisan annual budgets have passed on the first referendum. Guilford boasts a AAA bond rating, a healthy rainy day fund, and a near fully-funded pension. Matt has the respect of his peers in both parties and is always eager for input from all sides on any given issue.

Matt is a doer, not a do-nothing. His intervention during the impasse over getting safe water to the Mulberry Point, Long Cove, and Tuttle’s Point neighborhoods led to the successful resolution of the issue. He moves headlong into a problem and finds the most prudent, effective answers to challenges facing our community, from public safety to road repair to education funding for our schools. He is a champion of our natural resources, our history, and our quality of life.

Matt is a listener, not an ignorer. His service on the Board of Finance is replete with achievements he’s accomplished with the help of citizen engagement. He pays attention to the needs and expertise of others, and reaches conclusions based on both sound fiscal policy and the public good. His commitment to creating the Senior Tax Freeze program is an example of Matt’s ability to recognize a need and find a solution to resolve it.

The residents of Guilford value integrity, collaboration, action, and compassion. Matt Hoey exemplifies all of those, and I encourage the voters of Guilford to support him on Nov. 7.

Martha Carlson

Guilford