Legislative Council Third District: Republican Steve Packard

I’ve always loved Hamden. It’s the town I grew up in. My family moved away when I was just seven, but a few years ago, when I had to decide where to live, I knew it had to be Hamden.  There’s no place I’d rather be. Yet much as I love this town, I know we can do a lot better.

The third district has suffered from crime, blight and lack of development.  I know that a more proactive local government can turn things around.  More community-based efforts to curb crime, enforce ordinances and eliminate eyesores are a good start. Hamden needs to reach out to more businesses and work harder on commercial development. 

Doing so will help to fill the numerous vacant storefronts in the third district, improve Hamden’s tax revenues and provide better jobs and services to those in the area. Attracting the right businesses and working in cooperation with them to improve lighting and security is the first step toward a comprehensive plan to make the third district a safer and more attractive place to live.

I’m deeply concerned over the state of Hamden’s finances and fiscal management, an issue with affects everyone in the town.   With an under-funded retirement fund, increased need for borrowing and the prospect of ever increasing property taxes, it’s clear that Hamden is sorely in need of better management and new leadership.  The future of Hamden can be bright, but only if we start working now to spend town funds responsibly.