Meet the Candidate: Linda Schofield for Board of Finance

Linda Schofield is seeking election to the Simsbury Board of Finance. 

Education 

Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing, Master’s in Public Health

Work experience

Various jobs in nursing, executive roles at Aetna, Travelers, Kaiser Permanente, Director of CT Medicaid Program, Owner of Schofield & Associates Consulting, CT State Representative. 

Why are you seeking office?

I enjoy serving my community and feel that I would bring valuable skills and experience to the board.  As a taxpayer in Simsbury, and as a resident who appreciates the services provided by the town, I am interested in assuring that we continue our excellent quality of life & educational system while remaining competitive with other towns in terms of the tax burden. 

What experience do you bring to the table?

I believe my background at the State level, dealing with budgets, as well as my business background, will provide me with useful insight into town budgeting.  As Simsbury’s State Representative, I have a track record of getting things done and solving problems.  In addition, I was known for closely scrutinizing state budgets and developing creative ways to assure that we could meet our obligations to provide essential services to constituents without increasing the tax burden. 

What do you feel is the town's most pressing issue?

Simsbury’s biggest challenge is to maintain our wonderful quality of life without driving up property taxes further to do it.  The growth in total town spending on schools and the BOS budget combined has exceeded growth in revenue for several years.  This isn’t sustainable.  It drives up property taxes further, which drives down property values and drives away both seniors and young families, who can find a comparable quality of life or school system in other towns at a lower tax rate. 

We must therefore look for ways to increase revenue through appropriate economic development, to economize on spending across all parts of the town budget, and to manage the town’s financial policies to maximize efficiency – such as re-financing bonds at the lowest interest rates. 

What do you love most about town?

People in Simsbury have an amazing sense of community and a commitment to the town, which they demonstrate through volunteerism and participation in town & neighborhood activities.  I love belonging to this wonderful community. 

What do you like to do for fun?

I play tennis, hike, bike, ski, and garden a lot!  I also love to read, spend time with friends and family, and cook. In addition, I enjoy my volunteer activities, which include being a board member at the ABC House, McLean’s, & The Performing Arts Center, and volunteering with the library book-sale, the TMMF, and various other projects. 

How can residents keep up with you? 

I can be reached by phone (860) 651-8739 or email l.schofield@att.net.  I’m afraid I don’t do facebook or twitter, and I don’t have a website!  But I welcome input from Simsbury residents regarding budget issues!