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Jesse Schoolnik

Running for Town Council

6 CTNewsJunkie Reader Endorsements

Party: Democrat

CEP Status:

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Age: 36

Marital Status: Single

Current Residence: Vernon

Current Job: Regulatory Affairs Manager, UnitedHealthcare

Previous Job: Senior Manager of Health Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging

Previous Job: Government Relations Specialist, Arent Fox LLP

Education: MPA in Government Management, Southeastern University; BA in Public Policy & Government, Eastern Connecticut State University

The legislature has been debating various ideas to allow towns to raise revenue locally through something other than property taxes. If you could ease your residents' property tax burden by adding another method of taxation, is there anything you might consider for your town?
Are you in favor of regionalizing more services in conjunction with other nearby communities? If so, which ones?
Should your school district get the same amount of education funding from the state if your district's enrollment is dropping?
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for Town Council because it’s time for a new voice, a new perspective and new leadership in town hall. I have a track record of reaching across the aisle and embracing a bipartisanship approach to government.
What is the most pressing local issue facing your community and how would you solve it (within the capacity of the office for which you are running)?
Bipartisanship is crucial for success at any level of government. Unfortunately, that is something that is currently missing from our Town Council. If elected, I will put the needs of our community over partisan politics and work closely with other members of the Town Council, regardless of their political affiliation. I love what I see when I look at Vernon-Rockville. I see a strong community, thriving businesses, and the potential for even more growth. I will work to support local businesses, while bringing in new and exciting opportunities. Working hand in hand with our friends, families, and neighbors, we can ensure that Vernon-Rockville will continue to move forward in a positive direction.
With the state's ongoing budget crisis looming over the election, what are your plans for your community's budget? Is there anything you can do make your town less dependent on revenue from the state?
What's one thing most people don't know about you?
I spent nearly a decade in Washington, DC working in Congress and as a grassroots advocate. I learned a lot while there, but also saw how a lack of new ideas leads to stagnation. I'm hoping to use this knowledge to prevent the same from happening in Vernon. I have the experience that town hall desperately needs as well as the ability to embrace new and exciting ideas for our wonderful town.