We-Ha.com is offering our readers the opportunity to meet the candidates running for election on Nov. 4, 2014.

Compiled by Ronni Newton

Bill Wadsworth. Submitted photo

“Meet the Candidate” is designed to help West Hartford residents get to know the candidates running for office in the Nov. 4, 2014 election.

Questionnaires have been sent to all major party candidates, and each profile received has been submitted directly to We-Ha.com by the candidate or the candidate’s campaign management. The responses have not been edited.

As profiles are received, they will be published on We-Ha.com under the “Government” tab. We-Ha.com is not making endorsements of any political candidates.

If you are a candidate and wish to submit a profile, please return it by email to [email protected] by Oct. 29.

Name: Bill Wadsworth

Age: 61

Party, position seeking: Republican and Independent, 5th State Senate

Family information: 3 children, 4 grandchildren

Other occupation, if applicable:  Construction management

Political experience: 2 1/2 years Farmington TP&Z, 11 years Farmington Town Council, 2 years State Representative 21st District

Other relevant experience: Chair of multiple building committees, director at multiple civic organizations

Why are you running for office? To revive a vibrant economy to the state of Connecticut

What issue(s) are your primary area of focus? State economy, high cost of government, improve the state for our children

What do you feel is the biggest issue facing West Hartford today? Dealing with the high cost of government and energy in a stagnant economy

(Optional) Anything else you would like to share? Bill Wadsworth, a lifelong resident of Farmington, has three children and four grandchildren. He has served as an elected official in his community for almost twenty years, most recently as a member of the Town Council and as a State Representative. Bill is a proud veteran and graduate of UCONN.

The next legislative session must focus on real change in the way the State of Connecticut looks at private business. This is not a new issue. For the past fifty to sixty years, the Democratically Controlled General Assembly, accelerated during the times of Democratic Governors, has gradually eroded the base of private sector jobs so that today we face record taxes and record debt. This trend will continue into the future unless a different agenda is adopted. The Office of Fiscal Analysis has already projected a shortfall of one billion dollars in the next budget. Budget shortfalls have always been met with tax increases with the majority party we have today.

Bill’s priorities meet this challenge head on. Private sector jobs are the engine that drives our economy and they must be protected at all costs. Tax increases must be stopped and even reversed. Unnecessary regulations and mandates must be eliminated so that our businesses can have the confidence to reinvest in Connecticut. These tax and policy changes must affect all of our businesses and not just a chosen few.

It also will be necessary to reduce the size and cost of our government. The same number of jobs supported a seven billion dollar budget in the early nineteen nineties as today, with a twenty four billion dollar budget. An incredible burden on the taxpayer. With the current trend, even less jobs with support and even higher state budget in the future.

All of that leads to our children. We must provide an environment for them that will provide an opportunity to receive a great education and be able to use that education in the State of Connecticut. We want them to have high quality lives that fulfill their ambitions and keep them close to their homes.