What in your background serves you best in the office you’re running to hold?
I have extensive education, experience and practical work in finance. I have a double major from Lehigh University in Finance (with an emphasis on public finance) and Economics.
I have served nearly 16 years on the Board of Finance as either Chair or Vice-Chair and four years as a Selectman on the Board of Selectmen (including during 2012/14). I have also served 20-plus years on the Board of Burgesses and 14 years as Warden of Newtown Borough. I presently serve on the Town Board of Finance and Borough’s Board of Burgesses.
From a practical standpoint, I have owned a small business for 32 years. For 32 years I have had to make a payroll. Prudent fiscal planning and spending has helped make it an extremely successful law practice.
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?
In my opinion, every elected official should have at least these three traits/talents:
- Know how to listen;
- Always remember that Newtown residents are the customers;
- A public official needs to be able to work with others to solve problems in a practical and timely way.
How do you work with those who don’t share your views to find common ground?
Platitudes do not resolve issues — I listen and seek common ground. Principled dialogue is good. It should not be personal. Everyone should be working towards the same goal because no one person has all the answers.
Other Links, News, Info:
Four Candidates on Common Ground
Newtown GOP Assault on 1st Amendment Continues
Experience
- Newtown Board of Selectmen 2011 – 2015
- Newtown Board of Finance 2001 – 2011 (Vice-Chairperson); 2015-2019 (Chairperson/Vice-Chairperson)
- Newtown Charter Review Commission – Vice Chairperson 2021-2022
- Warden, Borough of Newtown 2007-2019
- Board of Burgesses, Borough of Newtown 1993 – 2007, 2019-Present (Senior Burgess 2001-2007)
- Family Counseling Center – Board of Directors (1992-2000)(Vice Chairperson -1999-2000)
- Board of Education – HVAC Committee 2003
- Western United Extreme, Inc. – Non-profit – Girl’s Premier Soccer Club – Founder, Board Member 2004 – 2011
- Democratic Town Committee – Newtown 2002-Present
Bio
My wife and I moved to Main Street 34 years ago and we raised our four children here. We were attracted to Newtown because of the great schools, historic Main Street, rural feel and “Nicer in Newtown” people (we had several friends who already lived here.) Our children were athletes and we met so many people through sports. My then neighbor, Lee Glover, Fire Chief of Hook & Ladder and Senior Burgess of the Borough, recruited me to serve on the Borough’s Board of Burgesses. My Newtown friend, Judge Bill Lavery of the Superior Court and later Appellate Court, encouraged me to serve on the then Family Counseling Center Board, and thereafter run for political office. I have served some 16 years on the Board of Finance, as Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson, and four years as a Selectman with Pat Llodra and Will Rodgers. I have also served for more than 20 years on the Borough Board of Burgesses and 12 years as Warden of the Borough.
My wife, Stephanie Gaston, presently serves as the Chair of the Borough of Newtown Historic District Commission, and for more than 20 years served on the Non-Profit, Newtown Scholarship Committee, for part of that as President, and then as long time Awards Committee Chair.
I received my Bachelor of Science in 1980 from Lehigh University – Double Major Finance (emphasis public finance) and Economics, and a Minor in Government. I graduated from Duquesne University School of Law (half my family is from Pittsburgh) in 1983. My wife Stephanie got married after my first year of law school. Upon graduation I got a job in Bridgeport with a trial law firm. After eight years I opened my own law firm and for 34 years have made a payroll. I have been blessed with an extremely successful practice.
My oldest daughter is an Orthopedic Surgeon in Fort Lauderdale. My oldest son worked on Wall Street, was making handsome money but wasn’t saving the world. He is presently a third year-law student at Case Western Reserve Medical School in Cleveland (fortunately, he is still a Pittsburgh Steelers fan!) My youngest daughter is a manager at a major law firm in NYC, and my youngest son has a successful internet business (and makes great East Coast IPAs.) I’d be remiss to omit that for more than 20 years I’ve owned Siberian Huskies. Yes, I’ve been the one running each Husky the 1- to 1½- mile Main Street loop each morning.
I truly hope I may earn your vote on November 4th. Here’s how:
- I believe the Newtown Voter/Resident is the Customer;
- I believe it is an honor to be elected as an Elected Official; in other words, the elected official did not win his/her position, the voters entrusted them;
- I am a strong supporter of the Five S’s … Schools, Streets, Safety, Smart Development, and Seniors;
- More specificity … Schools are the bedrock of a town and a nation. Not only because they are our children, but they are the future. And, not only because great education drives your real property values forward, but without education democracy dies. Without education there is no competitive research and development that defends our National Defense and leads the world economy.
- Streets – without good roads you impair 1st Responder capabilities and cost residents’ automobile repairs. Except in exigent circumstances, Streets should be budgeted each year.
- Safety = 1st Responders. Supporting our First Responders is a given. The Police have justified requested additional personnel for several years. The Board of Finance approved one additional officer. The Fire Companies lost an essential $150,000 fire equipment OSHA requirement because the Town budget removed a line item. The Board of Finance restored it. Full transparency, my oldest son was a Volunteer Fire Fighter with Hook & Ladder.
- Smart Development – I can just give examples. A truck/storage warehouse at Exit 9 effecting not only the surrounding neighbors, but putting 100+ tractor trailer trucks down Main Street would have been a disaster. Republicans’ leadership supported it; thank goodness it was rejected. Smart Development is – Marygolds and Good Old Days, not 50 – 70, 8-30g (affordable housing) driven apartments or condominiums in the heart of a Main Street Historic District that would have driven up annual town budgets and diminished our Historic Preservation efforts. Thank goodness for the existence of the Borough of Newtown Historic District, an apolitical creation.
- Seniors – Newtowners are not old, they are older. Obviously, I hear and recognize their needs and concerns, including expanding tax credits and pickle ball. I’m there, too, though with all transparency my wife and I would never qualify for the tax credits.
In summary, I hope I earn your vote. If not quite yet, please don’t hesitate to contact me. My email is okjt@aol.com.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Jim Gaston
18 Main Street