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An Ideal Background

I am writing to ask your readers to elect me to the Madison Board of Finance (BOF).

My extensive public service record and state management experience comprise an ideal background for effective service on the BOF. I served on the Zoning Board of Appeals for three years before my election to the Board of Education (BOE) in 2007. In 12 years on the BOE, I served twice as secretary, twice as policy chair, and currently as Facilities Committee chair, among other assignments.

I served almost nine years as director of the Business Services Division for the Secretary of the State of Connecticut. In this role I reduced my divisional budget by a basis of millions of dollars per year for Connecticut’s taxpayers. My combined 20-plus years on the BOE and as a state manager nurtured my command of public finance and policy.

Madison faces a huge challenge. Years of postponed building maintenance have resulted in a $100,000,000 bill to maintain our aging schools. As BOE Facilities chair, I helped promote the Tri-Board Working Group that brought town leadership together with public input to find a bipartisan alternative to the $100 million maintenance plan.

I ushered facilities renewal through unanimous Facilities Committee and BOE passage. This renewal plan rescues affirmative value from our untenable maintenance deficit, and if elected I commit to supporting the plan through referendum. As important, I will exercise fiscal discipline to fund the plan to fruition.

I am running on a slate of incredibly talented and accomplished candidates endorsed by the Madison Democrats. The Democrats want to bring transparency, public process, and planning to town government. If elected, I will work from the BOF to find responsible ways to fund community priorities. I encourage your readers to vote for positive change on Nov. 5.

Seth Klaskin

Madison

Democrat Seth Klaskin is seeking a seat on the Board of Finance.