We-Ha.com is offering our readers the opportunity to meet the candidates running in the Nov. 5, 2019, municipal election. 

Compiled by Ronni Newton

We-Ha.com is offering our readers the opportunity to “Meet the Candidate” – designed to help them get to know the candidates running for office in the 2019 municipal election.

Identical questionnaires have been sent to all 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 but have been formatted to match our publication style. Questions left blank have been deleted.

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 but we are publishing this information in order to assist voters in being informed and prepared when they go to the polls on Nov. 5.

If you are a candidate and wish to submit a profile, please return it by email to Ronni Newton at [email protected] as soon as possible.

Name: Leon S. Davidoff

Age: 57

Party, position seeking: Democrat, Re-election to the Town Council

Family information: I have been married to my wife, Lexy, a learning consultant with The Hartford, for 26 years. We have two daughters, Becky and Lani, both of whom attended and graduated from West Hartford public schools. Becky works for Jewish National Fund as a Campaign Executive in Chicago, IL., and Lani is a junior at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. majoring in Finance. Our family has an adopted dog named Kevin.

Other occupation, if applicable: I am a small business retailer who co-owns The Paper Station in Newington with my sister, Susan. I am a member of the Connecticut Bar, and practice in the area of probate law. I serve on the Board of Directors of West Hartford Fellowship Housing, the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra as well as an alumni volunteer for my alma mater, Clark University.

Political experience: Town Councilor 2007- Present; Deputy Mayor, May 2016 – Nov. 2017; Chair, Public Safety Committee; Past Chair/Member – Town Plan and Zoning Commission.

Other relevant experience: Small Business Saturday Neighborhood Organizer: Former Rotarian – Paul Harris Fellow; Past President, Newington Chamber of Commerce; Past PTO Treasurer, Aiken School; Past Treasurer, WHEE II; Member of The Emanuel Synagogue.

Why are you running for office? I truly enjoy serving our community and I am grateful for the privilege to serve on your Town Council. I want to continue to make West Hartford the best place to work, to live, and to raise a family. 

I will continue to work diligently to keep our community safe and our schools strong, to support our libraries, recreational programs and senior centers, to attract quality economic development to our vibrant business centers and neighborhoods, while being fiscally prudent with your tax dollars. 

My approach to addressing the issues that face our community has been straightforward thinking. You can count on me to advocate for well-reasoned, common sense positions that are in the best interests of our residents and the town.

I enjoy listening to the concerns of our residents, who are informed and engaged.  Our community is diverse, inclusive and vibrant – my priorities are your priorities.

What issue(s) are your primary area of focus? 

1. To keep our community safe. I will continue to support our professional public safety departments (police and fire) so that our residents have the best public safety services provided to them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I will make certain that these departments have the training and necessary resources available to them to perform their duties.
2. To keep our public school system strong. I will continue to support our schools so that they provide a first-rate education to all West Hartford students so that each student can reach their fullest potential. 
3. To be fiscally prudent with your tax dollars. I will continue to work hard to attract smart economic business investment and redevelopment in our community in order to grow our Town’s grand list. I will use my years of zoning experience to make certain that development is in harmony with our existing residential neighborhoods.  Additionally, I will continue to seek savings and efficiencies in the town services and programs that we provide to our residents.

What do you feel is the biggest issue facing West Hartford today? West Hartford is a wonderful place to live – it is safe, it is diverse, it is vibrant and it is inclusive. Every year, the Council balances the need to provide top notch services and programs, public school funding, and support of our public safety departments with the issue of affordability. At the state level, we need local leaders who will continue to advocate for our “fair share” of state aid. And to meet this challenge, we must continue to make a great town even better by working cooperatively with each other to find solutions. I pride myself on being a good listener and being well-prepared for meetings and discussions. I am always ready to adopt “good, sound ideas” regardless of whose idea it is. In the end, my service to our community is for one sole purpose: to serve the “best interests” of all the residents of our community

What do you feel differentiates you from other candidates also running for this position? I bring to the Council years of experience. I am seeking my seventh term on the West Harford Town Council, after serving nearly eight years on the Town Plan and Zoning Commission. I have served on every Council subcommittee during my tenure, and I have an understanding of how local government operates. Further, my institutional knowledge continues to help shape the debate in committee and at the Council table.

I commend any member of our community who is willing to volunteer their time and energy to serve our town as a member of the Town Council. Many hours are spent working on a variety of issues for the betterment of all, and my hope is that all that are elected to serve will continue to do so with civility and with respect for their colleagues.

Anything else you would like to share? Thank you to Ronni Newton, and We-Ha.com for providing me this opportunity to share my thoughts. To all of the residents of West Hartford, thank you for granting me the privilege of serving on your Town Council. It has been a very rewarding experience for me, and I am looking to contnue to serve our town.

I ask for your vote for me and my Democratic team members on Tuesday, November 5th so that I can continue to be a voice of reason at the Council table.

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