Elections 2015 - Alderman at Large
By Editor at October 23, 2023 | 9:15 am | Print
Candidates were asked by the New Britain City Journal to submit a short bio and a short article on why residents should vote for them. This week are at large candidates. All are in alphabetical order.
Daniel Davis (R)
My name is Daniel Davis and I am a candidate for New Britain Common Council, at large, which means any registered voter may vote for me. I currently sit on the Board of Education and have enjoyed my time there and have learned and grown a lot. Now, I am choosing to continue my public service to the city by volunteering my time, energy, and talents to assist our Mayor by setting a new standard for all of our residents and give them a better New Britain, to live, work and raise a family. I am a young man who is proud to call New Britain my home and it will remain my home for many years to come. I am invested in seeing our city thrive, much like I know the Mayor is. I will continue to serve as a relentless advocate for all things positive and all things that will best serve all the people of our city. In just two, short years, Mayor Erin Stewart has significantly revitalized New Britain and with more energy and fresh perspective, which I will bring, we will continue to experience the New Britain Renaissance! With your support on Tuesday, November 3rd, Team Stewart, truly can bring you a better New Britain!!
Duane Hinkson (D)
I will work hard for the people of New Britain. I possess the knowledge and experience to move our city forward. I want to make our city better by focusing on what matters.
Duane Hinkson, a native of Brooklyn, NY works for a multi-billion dollar company with North American Headquarters in Rocky Hill, CT. In his current position he helps manage the Industrial brand of products in 10 states and 2 regions across the U.S. Prior to his current position he has held a position with similar responsibilities at Waste Management. He has also worked at IBM, Pratt & Whitney and in the commercial division of Petro, the largest oil company in the northeast.
He is also a graduate of Central Connecticut State University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems. While at CCSU he served as a senator on the Student Government association, Vice president of the college chapter of the NAACP, and a DJ at WFCS 107.7.
Duane Hinkson has an extensive list of community and board service. He currently serves on the New Britain High School School Governance Council, as Vice Chair of Paradym Inc., and is a past vestry member of St.Marks Episcopal Church. He has also served as the Chair of Covenant to Care for Children, Vice President of the New Britain branch of the NAACP, as a member of the Democrat Town Committee of New Britain, and has also served on the board of AFCAMP. He is also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and is a Freemason in the Grand Lodge of NY. He currently lives in New Britain with his wife and 3 sons.
Chris Polkowski (R)
I am a life-long resident of New Britain; this city is my past, present and future. I grew up attending city schools and achieved both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from CCSU. New Britain is where my wife Jen and I started our life together, buying our home near beautiful Walnut Hill Park. For the past 6 years, I have worked as an Engineering Project Manager for the New Britain Public Works Department and currently managing the Downtown Streetscape Central Park Project.
After witnessing all the improvements within the city and the potential it has to grow influenced me to take my civil service to the next level. Our Downtown is undergoing a transformation creating a more pedestrian friendly atmosphere which will demand the need for entertainment, dining and special events. We also need to come up with more creative revenue streams and implement cost savings ideas to the City’s budget. Having over 10 years of experience within the engineering field including project budgeting and accounting I am confident that I am outstanding candidate for Alderman of New Britain.
If elected my main goals would be to promote economic development by reinventing our city, improve our education system and eliminate excessive expenses. Increasing the city’s Grand List has always been a challenge, but with proper leadership and creative vision we can develop our once thriving City into an arts and entertainment destination. Pinnacle Business Park has developable land that with innovative thinking can generate new job opportunities for our community. Our schools need to address classroom sizes that can provide a healthier learning atmosphere. Lowering teacher to student ratios will produce a more intimate learning setting that will help students excel. Department budgets would be reexamined to see if services can be streamlined to save money. Redundancies between the Board of Education and City Hall will be eliminated to help build a budget surplus.
I feel that my personal and professional experience will make me a dedicated Alderman. I will gladly serve the community that shaped me into the man that I am today. Please make a difference and exercise your right to vote this November 3rd.
Daniel Salerno (D endorsed by R)
As Alderman At Large, citywide elected position, I have been proud to serve the 73,000 residents of New Britain. I have been part of a phenomenally transparent, accessible and responsive Team of Democrats, Republicans and Unaffiiated officials, led by Mayor Erin Stewart.
I was again a Democrat endorsed by the Republican Town Committee, a testament to local bipartisan philosophy we have promoted and been successful with since our election in 2013.
Here are some of the actions and projects I am proud to say I supported, voted for with the Stewart Administration: steering local government from budgetary crisis and potential bankruptcy to a three level increase in our bond rating; reluctantly but honestly raised taxes to meet the pending disaster; obtained rational concessions and savings from three major labor unions without layoffs; increased the Grand List for the first time in years; remarkable economic growth producing hundreds of jobs with the promise of more.
Let me continue: embraced the federal, state funded Fasttrack Commuter System to encourage further growth; improved relations through a Blue Ribbon Committee with our School District Board of Education, invested and earmarked millions in homeless housing and other planning projects; the Downtown Streetscape Project; promoted incredible growth in the Arts programs including, theatre and music.
Still more: By the Fall 2015 a new Costco facility with over 240 new jobs, a revitalized 27 hole Stanley Municipal Golf Course, at least half a dozen new developments, restaurants and other business ventures.
All that and more in less than 20 months: slashed our debt service by some $20 million, no tax increases in 2015-2016, balanced the $250 million budget, over $5 million in road/bridge and infrastructure through smart use of federal and state subsidy; sponsored the Connecticut Nutmeg Games, will have completed two major sports turf fields at Willow Brook and Chesley parks; opened the Frisbie’s Dairy and service station complex, sold the eyesore Berkowitz Building on Main and Broad Street.
No, it wasn’t me who did all this, but I can say I proudly supported, spoke of and voted for these projects championed by Mayor Erin Stewart.
I sponsored 12 Coffees for Open Government sessions on Saturday mornings. Over 160 citizens attended these events to talk with Commissioners, the Mayor, other elected officials about everything from pothole repair to CCSU/Belvedere area student housing, recreation issues, economic development and education. If re-elected, my only promise is to continue these successful Coffee events.
E-mail me at [email protected]. If a New Britain resident I will assist in any way I can! Or Call Me at 860-977-5311.
Jim Sanders Jr. (R)
I am running for alderman at large, because I truly want to see New Britain succeed. In order for our city to move Forward our mayor needs a team with commitment, knowledge, and experience to really make this happen. I want to make New Britain the hard-hitting place that it used to be.
Some of my top priorities would be working with the mayor, department heads, and union leaders to evaluate the cities day-to-day operations to come up with ways To change how we do business so we can benefit our residents by saving money and maintaining services. And hopefully bringing some of the services that we have lost in the past back to the table. I want our city employees to take the same pride in our city as our diehard residents have.
I would also like to create an economic development task force that will aggressively go out and seek new businesses to move to our city to help stabilize and increase our tax base.
Another focus would be working with our state delegation to increase funding for our schools. The state of Connecticut has been investing hundreds of millions of dollars into other cities and towns but. New Britain seems to have been forgotten by our leaders in Hartford and it’s time to put an end to that!
I have variety of experience I started my business over 15 years ago. In 2008 I purchased the chamberlain Square business center I have owned and managed that property and brought New businesses to the Eastside. In 2009 I was selected by the Hartford business journal as one of the top 40 under 40 businessman most likely to succeed. I have been involved in construction projects ranging from foundation work all the way to the finish product. My knowledge in this field would be a great asset to the city with all the capital projects that are going on. I have worked in all types of environments and have always adapted well. Some of the companies we have worked for over the years are Procter & Gamble, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, Metro north, Zildjian, Gillette, and the list goes on. We have experience in working in all types of environments and with all types of people. We have also been a snow removal contractor for over 15 years with high profile accounts like The Attorney General’s office, fox 61 news, and Bushnel tower condos in downtown Hartford. At one point in my career I was bonded and insured within the city of New Britain to do water and sewer work along with concrete sidewalks.
I served two terms as a constable for the city of New Britain starting in 2009 until 2013 and I am currently in my third year as a civil service commissioner, I also served on the storm committee for the blizzard of 2013 and I have been an active member of New Britain’s community emergency response team since 2005. I am the chairman and one of the founders of the QUARTET CLUB charity ride committee and scholarship fund since 2009 our organization has given out over $25,000 and scholarships and assistance to members of our community in need I’m also active within our school communities by donating time to New Britain high school marching band and football team. I also volunteered to be the site manager and coordinator for New Britain’s Oktoberfest in 2013 and 2014. I have a reputation with friends family and people within our community for doing the right thing. I look forward to doing just that for the residence of New Britain!
Michael Trueworthy (D)
I have had the honor and privilege of being elected in several capacitates by the voters of New Britain. I was first elected to serve on the Board of Assessment Appeals, and served as its Chairman, where I had first hand interaction with thousands of resident taxpayers during a reevaluation year. I have always remembered the lessons I learned by these interactions. I have also been elected to the City Council. Over the years, there have been many decisions that I have had to make, some easy, some very difficult. I have always tried to work to make New Britain a better place.
I have always fought against our local property tax system, and the overreliance of the property tax system to fund education in Connecticut. I have tried to find any way to make that system fairer for New Britain folks and have proven successful whether fighting to expand the veterans’ exemption, or most recently putting funds aside to expand the senior exemption. I will not stop fighting for these initiatives. I’m proud of the work I have led in maintaining and improving our park system, pushing to preserve youth services and those for seniors alike. A strong New Britain is a well-balanced New Britain. We need businesses, parks, seniors, and families with children. I believe strongly that City Hall is the People and I am there to serve them.
Did not submit
Brian Keith Albert (D)
Suzanne Bielinski (D)
Tremelle Collins (R)
Jahaira Jimenez (D)
