Candidate for Selectman | 2021
I am Lou Annino, Jr. and I am running for the Board of Selectman. A lifelong, fourth generation resident of Killingworth, I have had the privilege of growing up in this town, attending its schools and later owning a home and raising my family here. I have also had the honor of serving the people of Killingworth as Selectman for the past ten years.
I have spent better than half my life serving this community as a volunteer and an elected official. As a Commissioner of Planning and Zoning for over twenty years, my record of balancing the growth needs of Killingworth along with maintaining its rural character speaks to my commitment to Killingworth.
My message has been and continues to be very simple: To serve the people of Killingworth. This includes: managing our tax dollars responsibly, keeping our town and roads safe, maintaining our rural character, ensuring that our children receive quality educations from our schools, providing commercial opportunities supporting the needs of the town and making available balanced and varied housing opportunities.
I believe my record as Selectman speaks for itself. During my tenure, I have played a leadership role in fiscal responsibility. I led the charge for development of a strategic capital plan while carefully managing along with our First Selectwoman, Cathy Iino, our precious operating dollars (your taxes). This has led to a nearly flat operating budget over the same period while allowing for responsible capital planning that will ensure the quality of our town roads, municipal facilities and services for the future. In addition, I have worked to strengthen municipal services through staff accountabilities and improvements in interdepartmental communication.
My experience as a Registered Professional Engineer and nearly 30 years of facilities management experience including Yale University, Bayer Corporation, and currently as the Chief Facilities Officer at the University of New Haven combined with my experience in public service make me uniquely qualified for the position of Selectman. This experience includes budget and staff management, strategic planning, road, facility and infrastructure planning and maintenance, and emergency management. Equally important, I have a track record of creativity, leadership and integrity.
I am proud to be a resident of Killingworth and I am privileged to have had the opportunity to serve my neighbors as an elected official. I hope to continue and if reelected, my commitment as Selectman is straight forward and simple. It is to serve responsibly so that all of us, the young, the elderly, and everyone in between, enjoy life in this town of ours and prosper in their life pursuits.
Candidate Q&A
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am Lou Annino, Jr. and I am running for the Board of Selectman.
A lifelong, fourth generation resident of Killingworth, I have had the privilege of growing up in this town, attending its schools and later owning a home and raising my family here.
I have spent better than half my life volunteering at some level in public service. I have served as an Officer in the United States Navy, a volunteer coach, on church councils, and spent over twenty years as a commissioner of Planning and Zoning and for the past decade as Selectman. I believe very strongly that as Americans we all have a responsibility to participate in our government. I also believe that with all the great things we enjoy living in this country, we have a responsibility to give something back.
As a Selectman and formerly a Commissioner of Planning and Zoning, my record of balancing the growth needs of this town along with maintaining its rural character speaks to my commitment to Killingworth.
Why are you running for the position?
I believe my record as Selectman speaks for itself. During my tenure as selectman, I have played a leadership role in fiscal responsibility. I led the charge for development of a strategic capital plan while carefully managing our precious operating dollars (your taxes). This has led to a nearly flat operating budget over the same period while allowing for responsible capital planning that will ensure the quality of our town roads, municipal facilities and services for the future. In addition, I have worked to strengthen municipal services through staff accountabilities and improvements in interdepartmental communication. It is on this basis I continue to ask for your vote for me as Selectman.
What do you see as the important issues facing your town and how would you address them in your role?
One important issue that I see facing the town is the condition of our municipal facilities. Specifically I am speaking of our town offices and emergency response buildings. Virtually all are well outdated and in need of capital improvements. To bring the current town hall and fire stations up to reasonable conditions will take millions of dollars to achieve. I do believe his needs to be done but I also believe there are phased approaches to achieving these necessary upgrades. This can be done through smart planning and designed focused on incremental investments that are within our current capital means to fund.
A second concern is the health of our town commercial district. As we all have experienced, there is much more pressure on our main road arteries (RT 80 & especially RT 81) that travel through our town center. This has led to growth in our commercial district which is a very good thing. However, if we do not proactively plan for the “harmonious” expansion of these roads and this area we will be faced with a commercial district that is less than desirable. I propose that we take the initiative to consider plans that create “traffic calming” features, interconnecting pedestrian infrastructure, and other enhancements that will make Killingworth’s commercial district a destination rather than a congested choke point or superhighway. This can cost effectively be accomplished through proactive planning with the various state agencies such as DEEP, CT DOT, and the regional planning agencies now and before the need is critical. Solid plans with endorsements of the various supporting agencies lead to grants and other means of creative funding.
Perhaps the most pressing item is the recent payment of $1.8 million to the Town of Killingworth as the result of the American Rescue Plan 2021. This is a significant windfall of revenue to this town and will require careful consideration as to how these funds are to be invested. I hope and will advocate that whatever is done it is an investment in our future. I am strongly opposed to investing in any depreciating assets such as roads, vehicles, etc. Instead, it should be in a form that will continue to pay dividends to the taxpayer’s long into the future, things like improved schools, infrastructure, and housing. To do this will require nonpartisan engagement and input from our residents at all levels of planning. Further it needs to be led by those with a proven history of strategic planning, creative design and the ability to get things done.
What are the key things you love about this town and its people?
The thing that I most admire about this town is its rural character, quite neighborhoods and peaceful open spaces. The people of Killingworth who have historically lived in this community, accept that to enjoy these benefits there are trade-offs such as driving a bit farther to shop, to work or go to school. While the people of Killingworth may enjoy their peace and quiet and even perhaps be somewhat reclusive, what I admire most is that we are a community of volunteers. When something really needs doing, when a neighbor really needs help, when action really needs taking, the people of Killingworth are there. This is something I find incredibly inspirational and makes me proud to live in and be part of this great town.
Additional thoughts to leave voters with?
While I have some bold thoughts and ideas I also believe I have the experience both as a town leader and a professional to make these things happen.
My experience as a Registered Professional Engineer and nearly 30 years of facilities management experience including Yale University, Bayer Corporation, and currently as the Chief Facilities Officer at the University of New Haven, combined with my experience in public service make me uniquely qualified for the position of Selectman. This experience includes budget and staff management, strategic planning, road, facility and infrastructure planning and maintenance, emergency management as well as a track record of creativity, leadership and integrity.
My message has been and continues to be very simple: To serve the people of Killingworth. This includes: managing our tax dollars responsibly, keeping our town and roads safe, maintaining its rural character, ensuring our children receive quality educations from our schools, providing commercial opportunities supporting the needs of the town and making available balanced and varied housing opportunities.
Killingworth Democratic Town Committee 