William F.L. Rodgers

Republican, District 3

Personal Info: Age 41. 208 Hattertown Road. Attorney. Incumbent Legislative Council member; chairman, ordinance committee. Chairman, Middle School Site-Based Management Council, 1995-97. Trustee, Newtown Historical Society, 1997-2001. Lieutenant Colonel, United States Marine Corps Reserve.

 What personal qualities do you have that you believe will benefit the Legislative Council? — I have the ability to make tough, even unpopular, decisions when required. I am honest, fair, and experienced.

What will be the council’s biggest challenge in the next two years? — Holding the town’s mill rate as low as possible in light of the many upcoming “big ticket” items on both the operating budget and capital fronts. This will require the abilities to first distinguish municipal “needs” from municipal “wants,” then prioritize the two, addressing the most urgent items first.

Do you favor economic development at Fairfield Hills, or should the campus be used solely for municipal purposes? — Yes, I favor limited, integrated commercial development at Fairfield Hills to both pay for the property’s acquisition and development and to lessen the overall tax burden on residents. Therefore, while I do envision that municipal uses will be primary, some commercial presence should be allowed, indeed encouraged, as a secondary use.

The proposed changes to the charter may fail on November 6 because of confusion and concern over the need to implement the changes in just 30 days because of a clerical error. Would you be willing to reappoint a charter revision commission next year to bring these changes before the public again a year from now so that they may be considered solely on their merits? — Yes, in fact I have been publicly and privately suggesting this for more than a month as a solution to the current predicament. I am distressed that at least one of the former Charter Revision Commission members apparently doubts the word of the council candidates on this score, however, and has even indicated that some might not accept reappointment.