We are proud of our community and committed to its continuous growth. Democrats are the party of inclusion and we believe in building Newington’s future in partnership with everyone who lives here. This includes celebrating the value of diversity – lifting up the lived experiences of all individuals to strengthen our community and ensure a feeling of inclusion for residents.

We believe there is a benefit to be found in differences of perspective and belief. To that end, we are committed to including a diversity of voices and viewpoints in community decision making and town government.

In order to move forward together, we believe that we need to restore certain town assets that need our attention, invest in Newington’s future, and advance our thinking and actions so we are prepared to meet future challenges.

Foundational Pillars

1. Restore

Growth to our Grand List

We believe that we need to be creative in our efforts to restore growth to Newington’s Grand List and add revenue-generating entities to the tax rolls. Tax revenues are necessary to maintain existing services and to provide high-quality education. The more successful we are in achieving this goal, the more we reduce the burden on our residential property taxes.

Anna Reynolds School & Mill Pond Park Pool

We believe in the restoration of Anna Reynolds school because our children deserve the best possible environment to support their education. This is simply an issue of equity and fairness. We are glad the referendum was approved by an overwhelming majority of voters and will continue to track the progress of this project.

As an important community resource for our residents and guests, the aging Mill Pond Park Pool should also be rebuilt so that it can better serve all members of our community. We support a referendum to provide funding for the redevelopment of Mill Pond Park Pool.

Commitment to Transparency

We believe in restoring our commitment to open government, dedicated to the service of our residents. We believe in an active participatory citizenry, informed of the issues, and equally invested in working toward positive outcomes.

2. Invest

Education

We believe in investing in the educational needs of our families, including the concept of continuous learning. Education is the pathway to a better future for all. We support our schools’ reconstruction initiatives, and we are committed to continuing market-competitive teacher salaries.

Downtown Business District

We believe in investing in Newington’s downtown business district because it is a hidden gem. We have an opportunity to accentuate and enhance its many wonderful features while responsibly adding to our grand list.

We believe in renewing economic development efforts so that Newington can retain existing businesses and attract new business investments in town.

We recommend efforts be made to revitalize the Lowrey Place properties in partnership with Keeney Manufacturing, Hartford Hospital, and the United States Postal Service. We support a mixed-use development of retail, office, and residential design that takes advantage of the many positive attributes Newington center has to offer.

We believe in taking a creative approach to enhancing our town center and increasing outdoor dining. We also believe in the importance of developing and sustaining affordable housing, recognizing the positive impact that such housing has on both the local economy and our community’s overall well-being.

We support exploring new concepts in zoning, such as transit-related overlay zoning along the rail lines.

Community Resources

We believe in investing in community resources. Newington has a lot to offer, and we are proud of our parks and open space, our library, and many other amenities. We believe in continuing our commitment to enhancing these wonderful attributes.

This includes acquiring more open space. The parcel at the top of Cedar Mountain was a great first step. We believe in identifying potential parcels of land, both developed and undeveloped, to add to our inventory of open space.

We believe in supporting recreational programming, the arts, concerts, and activities that bring our community together.

3. Advance

Inclusiveness

We believe that Newington will most effectively meet future challenges if the diversity of voices in our town are represented in community decision making and town government.

To that end, our meetings are advertised and open to all. We intend to actively publicize openings on boards and commissions and invite all who are interested to apply. We educate and support newcomers who are interested in seeking nomination to, running for, and holding public office.

Fairness

We believe that everyone should be compensated fairly for their work, including NPS tutors and paraprofessionals. These staff members interact closely with our children, and they stand to be in harm’s way upon any return to school during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now more than ever, we are committed to extending health insurance and paid sick time to these key staff members.

Education

We believe in advancing our town’s educational system by more fully committing to meet the needs of residents of all ages, from pre-K to adult. We will work toward the implementation of universal pre-K for all Newington students. We support empowering the administration to push the envelope on curriculum design and explore enhanced programming.

We also back reexamining the role and reach of adult education offerings, our relationships with trade schools, and the needs of local businesses.

Transportation

We believe in taking an active role in addressing transportation issues such as traffic flow, high-volume routes, and commuter safety. We view the busway as an opportunity, and we seek ways to leverage the busway to promote growth in Newington.

We believe Newington should have a train station that will not only allow our residents greater access to points north and south, eventually including Bradley International Airport, but that will also contribute to Newington’s economic development and success.

Regional Collaboration

We believe that there is strength in numbers. We believe that we should begin a dialogue on expanding existing partnerships with our adjacent towns so that we can reduce costs, increase revenues, and promote our region of Connecticut as a viable option for businesses, for investment, and for living.

We seek to work with neighboring towns to consider how we can attract state investment that is mutually beneficial. Regional investment makes sense if it achieves and supports our common interests.

Where We Stand on Important Issues

Anna Reynolds School
We support the restoration of the Anna Reynolds school as soon as possible. This needs to be our town’s top priority. We are glad the referendum was approved by an overwhelming majority of voters and will continue to monitor the progress of this project.

Mill Pond Pool
As an important community resource for our residents and guests, the aging Mill Pond Pool should be rebuilt.

A new pool and bathhouse will provide years of service to the residents of Newington, allowing individuals and families the enjoyment and physical benefits of swimming.

Downtown Redevelopment
Newington’s downtown business district is a hidden gem. We have an opportunity to accentuate and enhance its many wonderful features while responsibly adding to our grand list.

We recommend efforts be made to revitalize the Lowrey Place properties in partnership with Keeney Manufacturing, Hartford Hospital, and the United States Postal Service. We support a mixed-use development of retail, office, and residential design that takes advantage of the many positive attributes Newington center has to offer.

Train Station
We support the development of a train station in town within the newly zoned overlay along Cedar Street.

Grand List Expansion
Tax revenues are necessary to maintain existing services and to provide high-quality education. We need to be creative in our efforts to expand the grant list and add revenue-generating entities to the tax rolls.

The more successful we are in achieving this goal, the more we reduce the burden on our residential property taxes.

Open Space Inventory
Acquiring open space at the top of Cedar Mountain was a great first step. More needs to be done.

We should be working to identify potential parcels of land, both developed and undeveloped, to add to our inventory of open space.