Rep. Mastrofrancesco: The Southington Outsider Video Q&A

80th District Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco GALE MASTROFRANCESCO WEBSITE IMAGE

On October 1, the Southington Outsider sat down with the candidates running to represent Southington at the State Capital. Among the participants were Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco (R), who represents the 80th District, and her challenger, Cheryl Hilton (D).

Both were asked seven questions: four that were posed to all candidates, two that were crafted by their opponents, and one they wrote for themselves.

Rep. Mastrofrancesco's answers can be viewed below. For each question we have provided a time-stamp in boldface numbers, for quick reference.

The interview was filmed and edited by Wayne Edwards, with help from Jay Sanders.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/abd89a_916fd31dfb6343a6a5c5d29c7862b390/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Seven Questions for Rep. Mastrofrancesco

0:52 What changes would you work for at the state level to make it easier for residents to afford electricity?

2:08 What is the most useful thing the state could do right now to help its municipalities?

3:20 Which segment of the population do you feel has needs that are being overlooked by the state?

4:40 Identify a national or international issue that impacts us in Connecticut. How should this issue be addressed?

3:55 A question from Cheryl Hilton: “Representative Mastrofrancesco, you voted against the FY26/27 state budget and subsequent budget adjustment package. Those measures delivered $270 million in municipal aid, $190 million in additional education funding, property tax relief, family caregiver tax credits, firefighter cancer benefits, nursing home workforce investments, aging-in-place grants, early childhood education funding, and Medicaid rate increases. What specific budget proposal did you support that would have provided comparable benefits to the residents of Wolcott and Southington, and where in your proposal would the funding have come from?”

8:52 A question from Cheryl Hilton: “Representative Mastrofrancesco, many members of your own party joined Democrats in supporting House Bill 5003, Workforce Development and Protection for Assaulted Workers, because it expanded benefits for assaulted healthcare workers and teachers, strengthened support for first responders and veterans, and provided new protections for the families of those killed in the line of duty. Why were those provisions not enough to earn your support, and which specific benefits contained in the bill did you object to?”

11:07 A question from yourself: "Can you point out the differences between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party today?"

Letter: Vote ‘YES’ on the Elementary School Referendum

Kelley School. AVERY MARTIN PHOTO

To the Editor:

The future of Southington’s elementary schools belongs to all of Southington. The upcoming November 3rd referendum question outlines rebuilding Kelley school, completing a small, pre-existing build-out at South End school, and closing Flanders school. The implications of this proposal reach far beyond any “Flanders versus Kelley” narrative. Instead, it extends to the opportunities we provide our children, the investments we make with taxpayer dollars, and the kind of community we leave for the next generation. Every resident has a stake in that future, whether they have a child in an elementary classroom or have never walked through any of the school’s doors.

As a Kelley School parent since 2019, I understand the difference between a school community and a school building. While the Kelley school community is a warm, welcoming place, its physical walls, largely untouched since the school opened in 1966, leave much to be desired.

Last spring, however, I had the opportunity to tour elementary schools across Southington. Only after walking through the buildings did I fully understand the disparity in the learning environments this town currently provides our children. The difference in school quality is striking and it should matter to every resident, regardless of which school their children attend or whether they have children in school at all.

Thalberg’s library is one example that has stayed with me as a prime example of this disparity. The library at this school is expansive compared to Kelley’s tiny, cramped media center, with room for far more books, resources, and space for student learning. Standing in those two spaces, I could see how differently children in the same town experience something as fundamental as a school library.

This is no reflection on Kelley’s dedicated teachers and staff. They do extraordinary work within the space available. But their creativity and commitment cannot make outlets have more capacity. It cannot make water stains disappear from the ceiling tiles, or magically create adequate heating or cooling conditions. It cannot make our building ADA compliant—a building that is currently inaccessible to any student who uses a wheel chair.

Bottom Line: Our children deserve learning environments that support their education, and our educators deserve buildings that help them do their jobs.

That is why I fully support the November 3 referendum to build a new Kelley School and build-out of already existing space for an expansion at South End School.

This is not to say I take the closing of Flanders lightly. In an ideal world, we would close no schools. We would rebuild both Kelley and Flanders, preserve every school community, and provide every child with updated facilities. I understand why families want that outcome. A school holds relationships, memories and a sense of belonging. Those concerns deserve respect.

It does not diminish the fact that Southington officials must make decisions within real financial and practical limits. The town has to balance enrollment, available space, construction costs and the ongoing expense of operating and maintaining its buildings. The district’s studies and comparison of alternatives identified this plan as the best fit for our enrollment needs and financial considerations. It uses existing space at South End and a Kelley property better suited to new construction, while addressing the need for more equitable learning environments. Those are practical reasons to move forward.

Fiscal responsibility also means recognizing that waiting has a cost. Rejecting this proposal does not eliminate the needs of our aging buildings. The district has documented substantial maintenance and capital improvement needs at Kelley, Flanders, and Derynoski. Delaying action leaves taxpayers gambling on when expensive repairs will become unavoidable and how much we will spend keeping outdated buildings functioning while still needing a long-term solution.

Meanwhile, students continue learning in the same unequal spaces. Childhood does not pause while adults debate another proposal. A year of delay is a year children cannot get back. Approving the referendum only begins the work: designing and building schools takes years, making action now even more urgent.

Residents can care deeply about our schools and disagree about this plan. But after seeing the differences firsthand and considering the district’s research, I believe this proposal offers a responsible path forward. While it cannot give every person their ideal outcome, we can take a meaningful step toward better learning environments while using town resources thoughtfully.

All of the elementary school students in Southington deserve the opportunity to learn in quality, comparable environments without further delay. The culmination of this plan gives EVERY elementary school child in Southington an updated and adequate building.

Please vote YES on November 3.

Megan Mele

Note: the opinions expressed in this letter do not necessarily reflect those of The Southington Outsider.

Tim Wilk: The Southington Outsider Video Q&A

Tim Wilk PHOTO COURTESY OF TIM WILK

On October 1, the Southington Outsider sat down with the candidates running to represent Southington at the State Capital. Among the participants were Rep. Chris Poulos (D) and his challenger, Tim Wilk (R).

Both were asked seven questions: four that were posed to all candidates, two that were crafted by their opponents, and one they wrote for themselves.

Wilk's answers can be viewed below. For each question we have provided a time-stamp in boldface numbers, for quick reference.

The interview was filmed and edited by Wayne Edwards, with help from Jay Sanders.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/abd89a_c71937839b0d4e6a9dc925f43f5ac141/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Seven Questions for Tim Wilk

1:22 What changes would you work for at the state level to make it easier for residents to afford electricity?

2:03 What is the most useful thing the state could do right now to help its municipalities?

2:56 Which segment of the population do you feel has needs that are being overlooked by the state?

4:24 Identify a national or international issue that impacts us in Connecticut. How should this issue be addressed?

5:01 A question from Rep. Poulos: "What is one of Chris Poulos’ accomplishments that you agree with and support? Please explain why."

5:50 A question from Rep. Poulos: "As someone who spent his career in law enforcement, your reaction to the deaths of Americans Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti during encounters with federal immigration-enforcement officers in Minneapolis bears special weight. Based on what you have seen and heard about these incidents, do you think the officers’ actions were justified? And regardless of someone’s immigration status or political views, do you believe federal officers must be held accountable when deadly force is used unlawfully?"

7:30 A question from yourself: “Is there anything else that you would like voters to know about you?"