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Dear West Hartford Residents,

I’m excited to announce my candidacy for West Hartford’s town council this November 2nd. I’ve spent the last nine years as your elected Board of Education representative and bring a tremendous amount of experience to the table through:

• Union negotiations
• Complex municipal budgets
• Controversial issues
• School security concerns after Sandy Hook
• Hiring our current superintendent
• Collaborating and negotiating viable issues with the majority party

Professionally, I was an owner and third generation family member of Guida’s Dairy, employing 260; it was one of the largest independent dairies in New England. We’ve since sold the business where I helped transition with the new ownership. My business experience provides me with the acumen vital to understanding the importance of solid leadership and accountability to staff and clients; characteristics I considers critical in any role.

I’m a retired engineer officer of 25 years in the Connecticut Army National Guard. I’m an Iraq War veteran where I earned the Combat Action Badge and Bronze Star

It has been one of my greatest honors to serve the community and seeing my three children thrive in our school system. It’s been rewarding both as a parent and board member. I want to bring that same passion and experience to the Town Council.

West Hartford is a vibrant town with a great community. But my philosophy is one of continuous improvement. We have our challenges like anywhere else, but the best decisions come from respectful discussion and being open to ideas and solutions grown in an environment of different viewpoints.

Keeping the community safe is a priority, take for example the recent carjacking by gunpoint near Bishops Corner, cops call it a problem of “catch and release” and often see the same juvenile criminals over and over again. To ensure a safer community, we must have open dialogue with our state legislators and press them to change the laws that will make our community safer. Allowing juvenile criminals to be released after 6 hours with drawn-out court dates is something that needs to be changed. It’s essential for a safer community.

Additional items critical to bring forward for discussion to continuously improve our community;

• Improve transportation infrastructure
• Support local business everywhere, not just certain areas
• Reduce crime, support our police and promote community safety and security
• Support the school systems for long term plans in education and infrastructure
• Protect the town and tax payers by not adding new debt
• Allocate resources to DPW to maintain parks, sports fields, and safe sidewalks
• Ensure property taxes are business friendly and treated equally
• Create long term town planning, not short term, e.g. when something comes up for sale
• Keep zoning local
• Don’t just provide “affordable housing,” make West Hartford affordable

I want to thank everyone for the support over the last nine years in my role as your Board of Ed representative and I hope to have your support again this November.

Sincerely,

Mark Zydanowicz
Republican Candidate for Town Council
Elected member – West Hartford Board of Education