What in your background serves you best in the office you’re running to hold?
When I was on the Newtown Board of Education I was the liaison to the District Safety and Security Committee. This committee is a collaborative group between the the school district and town resources including the Police Department and Emergency Management. I had the opportunity to work with these groups on multiple occasions, including observing a half day table top drill, where all stakeholders went through the motions of responding to a series of interconnected emergencies taking place across the town.

What do you think are the most important traits necessary for anyone running for office to do a good job in the role of public servant?
I think the most important traits are an open mind and the ability to see both the immediate and future impact of decisions. The open mind is important because no issue is black and white and while you as an individual may feel you know the correct path forward, you need to be willing to consider a second or third viewpoint of someone who has different experiences and allow that to change your thoughts on a particular issue. As for the ability to see immediate and future impacts, it is important to take a course that is both right in the moment, but sustainable. Trading a short term gain for a longer term problem is not a good solution as it just means you have kicked the can down the road. Being able to see what will come two, three or five years down the road and crafting the solution based on where you want to be in that time frame is a much better path to decisionmaking.

How do you work with those who don’t share your views to find common ground?
Listening with an open mind to their viewpoint and trying to present my own in a factual, non judgmental way. Being stubborn and unwilling to open your mind to another viewpoint doesn’t get you anywhere other than causing the other person to dig in their own heels. Having a true discussion and working toward understanding and compromise will help others be open to the same and create decisions that will work in the long run.

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I was born and raised in Newtown.  I have spent around 40 years as a member of the Newtown community and have been a member of various Boards since 2016 when I joined the Newtown Board of Education.  I have seen Newtown change significantly over the years but have always been proud to call Newtown home and prouder still to have contributed to the school system that I graduated from and the growth of the town as a whole.  Giving back to the community is a big part of who I am and I look forward to bringing my experience as a member of the Board of Education and Board of Selectmen to the Police Commission as we tackle issues that are important to both the town and schools over the next 4 years.

Dan and family; Dan … and  Dan and his brothers with a painting of their father, the former Town Historian, at the dedication of a tree in his honor after his passing next to the Little Red Schoolhouse by the Newtown Historical Society.