Name: Tim Holian (D)

Address: PO Box 6

Age: 45

Occupation: Attorney

Education: St Lawrence University, Marshall Law School in Chicago. Admitted to the Bar Association in 1979.

Political Experience: Two-year Legislative Council incumbent.

Years in Newtown: Grew up in Newtown.

What is the best plan of development for the re-use of Fairfield Hills?

Of the three development proposals, I am not attracted to any of them because they all seem to be lean very heavily toward residential development. That to me does not do anything to increase Newtown’s tax base. This town needs money and more light commercial industry. If I had to go with one, I’d go with Wilder Balter because they do offer to purchase the land, remediate the environmental problems and then sell the property to the town in turnkey condition. We would be remiss if we did not do everything we could to purchase the property outright. Partnerships scare me. A town purchase is ideal, but we can’t purchase a pig and a poke either.

How do you feel about giving tax breaks to special groups: senior citizens, volunteer emergency personnel and new businesses? I’m in favor of giving tax breaks to the elderly as long as it is based upon need. As for new businesses, I would like to encourage light industry (not belching smokestacks) as much as possible. We need to increase the tax base and decrease the burden on taxpayers.

What are Newtown’s three most pressing capital needs? How do we plan for them given the nearly $60 million worth of projects currently on the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)? Any and all municipal space, including recreation facilities, a 5/6 school. We need to do long-term planning. You can’t be shortsighted in a community. We have no choice but to increase the tax base with commercial development. Those are words we would never have heard before, but the demands have reached the point where we need to do so.

What skills do you have for the job that will most benefit the Town of Newtown? Common sense and a logical approach to balancing the needs of the town against the wants of the town, without getting sidetracked into the area of a wish list.

Why do you feel you should be reelected? I would be disappointed if I didn’t get reelected. I spent the first year learning. I’m just getting started. Two-year terms are too short.

Is there one aspect of Newtown’s government you would like to see changed? The town is getting too big for the romance of the town meeting and the New England charm of the town meeting. I miss that charm, but the town has outgrown it.