The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Candidate hopes to protect natural resources at home
Deborah Simon developing campaign to run for first selectman
BARKHAMSTED » Deborah Simon is mounting a campaign for first selectman with hopes of protecting the natural wonders of the community she calls home and fostering collaboration among residents, she said.
With her town’s Plan of Conservation and Development up for consideration, she decided to run for the chief executive role to ensure the natural beauty of the town remains intact, she said recently.
“I think the time has come in our nation for all citizens to speak up and stand up for what they believe in, and I would like to have a greater voice in the future of the town of Barkhamsted,” said Simon. “Personally, I believe Barkhamsted is either the national park of Connecticut or the gem of Connecticut, and many people in the state of Connecticut come to our town to enjoy it, and they like it the way it is.”
Simon said she is not against economic development as a rule, but projects should be considered with an eye on maintaining the beauty of the town.
“I think that we should consider compatible development with the type of town that we have — a beautiful and scenic town,” said Simon. “One of the main points I’d like is to keep our town wild and scenic — another main point is that I’d like to try to maintain our rural character. But I also realize the need for some development, and I’d love to work with various commissions in town and individuals to create responsible development when it’s necessary and where it’s necessary.”
The need for balance between natural beauty and development became apparent to her when she witnessed the development of Milford, her hometown, Simon said. The town overreached, she believes, and has now become overly-developed, with strip malls and lots of traffic and driving.
She was introduced to the Barkhamsted area as a child when her father would take the family on Sunday drives. They’d come up to Litchfield County to spend time in scenic spaces.
During those trips, she was introduced to Northwestern Connecticut Community College, she said, and decided to attend it later in life, realizing that she could live in the area her family had glimpsed as visitors.
She later settled in Barkhamsted, attracted by the natural beauty of the community, and has lived in town for more than 20 years.
Her love of nature comes naturally — her family grew up on the edge of the forest and wetlands, and she would take walks through the area, she said. The experience stayed with her into adulthood. She worked for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as an environmental analyst, fostering solutions for both land-owners and the environment.
Simon began working for DEEP in 1994, and after some time away to raise her daughter, she returned to work for the department, and does so on a seasonal basis to this day, she said.
Concern for the local environment is not the only thing on her mind, however. Simon noted that she hoped to foster greater collaboration among residents in running the town.
She said she believes First Selectman Don Stein has done a number of good things for the community and supports several of them.
The vision for the community, though — this balance between development and conservation — is crucial, according to Simon.
Simon hopes to bring more people into the conversation regarding this point than Stein necessarily would have done.
“I think it’s a mindset. I think that people need to discuss things more, people need to be heard more in town,” said Simon. “I also would love to encourage more people in town — and I would try to do this, if I am elected — to take part in more meetings and giving their thoughts to where they think the town should be going.”
Simon has not previously held public office, she said, but believes her history working with people of disparate views and backgrounds, including both developers and conservationists as an environmental analyst, makes her a good candidate for first selectman.
“I’ve done a lot of supervising in my day, and working with people for common goals — to find solutions — and had pretty good success at it,” said Simon. “I believe that I’d be well-qualified to work with various commissions and people, and I’m a very hard-working and dedicated person. Whatever I need to learn, I’m ready to learn.”
Stein said in April that he would seek a sixth term in office. He also noted the balance between environmental concerns and development in his announcement.
“Along with the people issues, another balancing act for a First Selectman is to juggle the conflicting demands of protecting and preserving the very beautiful, very special environment we have been blessed with, (and) economic development to keep the town affordable,” wrote Stein at the time.
Simon wants to hear from Barkhamsted residents about their vision for the town as she runs for office. She asked that they drop her an email at greenwoodsinfo1@gmail.com.