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08/22/2017 12:00 AMHartmann is the RTC nominated candidate for the position of first selectman. Born and raised in Guilford, Hartman has called himself the candidate of continuity, ready to build upon the success of First Selectman Joe Mazza and put his financial experience to work to grow and protect Guilford.
Hartmann, the oldest of six, remembers working numerous jobs around town, playing on the first Guilford High School (GHS) football team, and observing his father’s involvement in town government. After college, Hartmann went to work in New York City and later accepted a position in London, where he lived for more than 20 years with his wife and raised his two children.
Hartmann said he was always drawn to Guilford, making frequent trips home and taking long summer vacations in town while working overseas, so when his father asked if he would like to take over his tax consulting business, Hartman said he knew it was the right move.
“I thought well there is a beautiful thing,” he said. “It [the business] gets me into the community, so my wife and I took it over and we have been building the business and it is successful…It was always so blisteringly pleasant to come back here and people would just ask you ‘How are you? Are you well?’ instead of, ‘What do you do? What can you do for me?’”
Upon hearing that Mazza would not seek another term, Hartmann said he realized it was time to enter local politics. Already involved in organizations like Rotary and Friends of Guilford Youth Mentoring, Hartmann said he knows his financial experience will serve him well in the top job.
“Based on my background, I look at cash flow, balances, strengths, weaknesses, efficiencies, and how to manage them,” he said. “There is nothing in my vocabulary that tells me I can’t do a better job of that than anybody in town.”
Hartmann said the way he sees it, the job of first selectman is about more than just cutting budgets, it is about management, compassion, harmony, and efficiency.
“It is one of the most precious things in Guilford that we get along very well and I don’t want to see that get lost,” he said. “My view is you can just cut and promise people lower taxes, but really the job of first selectman is unique in the sense that it is all about management and it is all about relationships; it is about making sure everyone is on the same page and promoting what is good.”
Hartmann said he has adopted the motto “Keep Guilford Strong” by focusing on communication and transparency, improving resident access to local government, protecting the success of the education system and the town’s current financial position, and protecting the culture and character of town.
“I think Guilford is a special place in that we are concerned about one another, we do not square off into competitive groups. It is not every man for himself, it is a genuinely compassionate society and I think it is rare,” he said. “I will do whatever I can to defend that.”
Hartmann said he knows while Guilford is strong financially, the town resides in a state that is not. He said some things will have to be done differently in future and hard choices and cuts will have to be made, but he wants to ensure that whatever change may come, all parties have a seat at the table.
“I am working with large agencies in town and leaders of committees and boards and having conversations with them,” he said. “So that when the time comes that cuts have to be made that they have their hand on the knife so we are making the most informed decisions possible.”