Meet Doug Stebbins, Candidate for the Somers Board of Selectmen

Name: Doug Stebbins

Family: Married to Donna; three children, Karen, Carl, and Conrad; two grandchildren, Kristine and Andres Douglas

Office Sought: Board of Selectmen

Occupation: Retired

Education: Economics degree from the University of Hartford

Government and/or other experience qualifying you for office: As a life-long town resident, I know Somers. In addition, I have experience crafting and executing financial plans, gained through positions at Hamilton Standard and Cigna. Through working at my dad’s business here in Somers, which specialized in site-work and road installation, I bring construction knowledge and skills that will prove an asset in maintaining town infrastructure.

I also bring a fresh approach to the race in that I am campaigning with my long-time friend, Bob Pettee (candidate for First Selectman) under the banner, Somers United. Bob and I will appear on the ballot as unaffiliated, but Bob was previously a registered Republican, while I was a registered Democrat. The fact that we are uniting across party lines is another advantage for voters, who may be tired of party politics that can slow progress (especially as seen recently at the federal level). Our varied backgrounds give us a balanced perspective that will help unify diverse groups.

Together with Bob, I am in this race to improve town efficiency, affordability, and quality of services through common sense and partnership. Our concern is for the town, not for us.

Somers and I go way back. In fact, I was born and raised here, graduating from Somers High, working in construction with my dad at Field Road, then heading off to the Marine Corps (aircraft fire division) in the late 60s. I earned an economics degree at the University of Hartford and gained experience with financial planning while working in financial controls at Hamilton Standard and then moving on to various roles at Cigna. Now retired, I served as a corrections officer in Somers/Enfield for 17 years, becoming further skilled at supervising people. 

Raising my children here in town inspired me to serve two terms on the Board of Education, as well as coach basketball, baseball, and soccer. Friends say I smile easily, but I also take Somers’ future seriously. I look forward to making residents smile through smarter town government.

Major issues you are focusing on: Keeping taxes down, solidifying town infrastructure, and establishing a more open dialogue with residents

How you intend on addressing these issues: Together with my Somers United “running mate,” Bob Pettee (candidate for First Selectman), I believe we need to keep taxes down, solidify town infrastructure, and establish a more open dialogue with residents.

• We keep taxes down by increasing efficiency, by reviewing town processes and improving them using a team approach that delivers better, faster, less costly government.
• We solidify town infrastructure by returning to the discipline of long-range planning, where maintenance, such as oiling roads or trimming trees, occurs on a regular schedule.

We establish a more open dialogue with residents by listening and staying receptive to differing opinions. The current defensive, adversarial atmosphere at town meetings needs to change to more of a partnership. After all, the selectmen work for the residents – the taxpayers are the selectmen’s customers, and their concerns and suggestions should be welcomed as a means of improving the town.