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Merrill Gay

Running for Mayor

8 CTNewsJunkie Reader Endorsements

Party: Democrat

CEP Status:

Website: merrill4nb.org

Age: 56

Marital Status: Divorced

Current Residence: New Britain

Current Job: Executive Director, CT Early Childhood Alliance

Previous Job: Executive Director Coalition for New Britain' Youth

Previous Job: Executive Director New Britain Early Childhood Collaborative

Education: MS Community Economic Development, Univ. of Southern NH

Why are you running for this office?
I'm running for mayor to make positive change in the city. I will work to build the grand list, improve the schools and protect our city resources, particularly it's water resources.
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)?
The underlying issue for all of the city's problems is a lack of good paying jobs. I will propose a good jobs ordinance to require that city construction jobs employ local residents and support the creation of a manufacturing academy at the high school.
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?
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?
I support regionalizing education. Our current system with its 145 small school districts perpetuates segregation by race and income.
Should your school district get the same amount of education funding from the state if your district's enrollment is dropping?
New Britain has been short changed by the existing Educational Cost Sharing grant system. Under the funding formula the city should be getting about $30 million more from the state each year. Unfortunately the grants have been capped so New Britain doesn't get all that we should.
What's one thing most people don't know about you?
In 2011 I celebrated my 50th by pedaling across the country in a velomobile.
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