Share this candidate profile:

Matthew Knickerbocker

Running for First Selectman

0 CTNewsJunkie Reader Endorsements

Party: Democrat, WFP

CEP Status:

Website: www.betheldemocrats.com

Age: 64

Marital Status: Married

Current Residence: Bethel, CT

Current Job: First Selectman

Previous Job: Marketing executive

Previous Job: Sales executive

Education: MPA

Why are you running for this office?
I am running to serve my community in the most effective way possible, using three decades of business management experience as well as eight years of public sector experience.
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)?
Our community has many infrastructure needs, the most pressing of which is two aging and increasingly obsolete elementary schools that in desperate need of renovation. The $42 million dollar project is being carefully timed to launch as older bond debt is retired to minimize the threat of sharp tax increases to cover the cost.
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?
We are prepared to absorb a substantial cut in state aid without serious disruption in school or town services. However, in the following years, deep cuts in state aid will almost certainly result in property tax increases.
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?
Local sharing of state sales tax, increases in user fees to make certain town departments more self-sustaining (such as for land use and building permits, etc.)
Are you in favor of regionalizing more services in conjunction with other nearby communities? If so, which ones?
Yes, although I have yet to find common services that could be shared with neighboring towns that lend themselves to resource sharing. I continue to seek opportunities.
Should your school district get the same amount of education funding from the state if your district's enrollment is dropping?
That answer depends on many other factors. Even if total enrollment is dropping, level funding or even increases in funding may be warranted if demographic changes are placing additional burdens with regard to poverty and special needs.
What's one thing most people don't know about you?
I am an avid cyclist and former racer.
This product is for research only. CTNewsJunkie does not endorse any candidates for office or legislation referenced on this site. The messages in these questions were made independent of any candidate or political party. Sponsors do not endorse candidates. Additional information about legislative elections or statewide campaigns may be found on the State Election Enforcement Commission's web site. CTNewsJunkie reserves the right to remove offensive or inappropriate content within candidates' answers to questions, but note when such a change has been made.