Your Advocate and Voice on the North Haven Fire Commission

If you believe that our residents, Fire Department and volunteers deserve to be safe, vote for me because I will be your advocate and voice. Why? Because I believe we can do better by speaking up.

The Fire Commission is a governing board that oversees the budget, policies, contracts, and personnel of the Fire Department. A fire commissioner gives the public a voice in department decision making to ensure the community’s needs are represented. There’s no doubt in my mind that our budget MUST provide the needed resources for the Fire Department to safely serve the community. Fundraising is great for procuring “nice-to-have” resources, like a drone, but it is not a reliable source to fund basic operations. Unfortunately, this is what has been happening for years.

As I demonstrated on the Board of Education, I challenge conventional thinking and push back against the crippling excuse of, “That’s how it’s always been done.” Fear of change prevents an organization from moving forward and meeting the changing needs of our community. My previous governing board experience has proven my ability to generate new ideas and solutions as well as encourage open public discussions. Most importantly, I will advocate for our residents and the firefighters who are putting their lives on the line for us.

Simply put, we cannot and should not accept that the Fire Department budget won’t support basic resources. Safety is a priority and should not be contingent on fundraising; needed resources must be included in the budget.

Finally, I would like to address the subject of experience. My opponents and I have something in common: We have all served on a municipal governing board. But our professional backgrounds are varied. I have spent my career serving children and adults in the healthcare industry. In contrast one of my opponents owns an auto business, and the other one serves warrants.

We have different approaches on how to fulfill the role of an elected official overseeing public safety. My opponents have accepted the status quo when it comes to the Fire Department’sresources. I challenge that notion and will fight for the Fire Department budget to cover all needed resources. From equipment to personnel needed to safely serve our town, the well-being of North Haven residents is not an afterthought and should not be treated as such.

I would be honored to receive your vote on November 5th.

Jennie Caldwell for North Haven Fire Commission