We-Ha.com is offering our readers the opportunity to meet the candidates running in the Nov. 7, 2023 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 2023 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. 7.

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.

TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATE

Name: Tiffani McGinnis

Party affiliation: Democrat

Family information: Married for 27 years to Matthew. We have three children, Jade, Ryley and Flynn, who is currently a sophomore at University of Connecticut.

Primary occupation:  Campaign Manager (semi-retired)

Previous political experience: I have volunteered on political campaigns since 2004. I have managed and co-managed the campaigns of Rep. Tammy Exum, State Senator Derek Slap and former Town Council member Leon Davidoff. I worked on Stephanie Thomas’s campaign for Secretary of the State and was treasurer for Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz in 2022. I founded New England Women for Biden-Harris in 2020 and am currently part of the leadership team for the national Women for Biden-Harris group.

Other relevant experience that may be related to your desire to serve the community, and further qualifies you for the office you are seeking: I was appointed to the Town Council in March of this year to fill the vacancy left by Leon Davidoff when he became our Town Clerk. I am chair of the Community Planning and Economic Development Committee and vice-chair of the Public Safety Committee.

Why are you running for office? I am running for a full term on the Town Council so I can continue to serve my community and make a difference. I enjoy being part of a team that demonstrates leadership as well as reasonable and practical solutions to the issues that face our town.

There have recently been numerous residential and commercial developments considered by the Town Council, and there are others in the pipeline. What is your overall opinion of the pace of development in West Hartford? The development currently happening in West Hartford has been measured and well-vetted. As a member of the Town Council, we are tasked with addressing various development proposals; I approach each one with an open mind and consider whether new proposals are in the best interest of our community. After balancing all of the information presented, I am able to reach a well-reasoned position.

What issue(s) are your primary area of focus? Public Safety, Affordability, Infrastructure.

What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing West Hartford today, and how do you plan to address it if elected?Our biggest challenge will be maintaining the level of services (schools, public safety, libraries, etc.) that residents have come to expect. With smart growth and careful budgeting, we can ensure that West Hartford remains one of the best towns in the country.

What do you feel differentiates you from the candidates from other parties also running for this position? Being a single mother in my early twenties with limited financial resources made me keenly aware of how government can help people get through difficult circumstances. My political experience has given me great insight into what makes someone a successful public servant.

Anything else you would like to share relevant to earning votes on Nov. 7? Since being appointed to the Town Council earlier this year, I have been an active member of this legislative body. I arrive prepared for meetings so that I can be an active participant at the Council table. I enjoy talking to residents at events and listening to their concerns. Being a member of the Town Council has been a wonderful experience and I hope to continue serving our town for two more years. Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with your readers.

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