Meet the Candidate: Paul Shapiro

"Meet the Candidate" is a feature on Mansfield-Storrs Patch designed to help you get to know your local candidates before you take to the polls this November. Each profile was submitted directly by the candidate. 

Take a moment to review each profile so you can be informed and prepared when you go to the polls on Nov. 8.

Name: Paul M. Shapiro

Age: 62

Party, Position Seeking:  Democrat, Town Council

Family information: Married. My wife Annette is a pianist and chamber musician who is best known for her work in the Hop River Chamber Music series. Our son Sam is a sophomore at E.O. Smith High School.

Occupation: Attorney. I was an assistant attorney general for 29 years, primarily as senior legal counsel to UConn.

Political Experience: I was a volunteer in the Ned Lamont for Senate campaign in 2006. I have not held public office prior to my appointment to the Council in January, 2011 to complete Gregg Haddad's unexpired term.

Other Experience: I have been active in the community since in moved to Mansfield in 1986. I have served as president of Temple Bnai Israel in Willimantic and was president of the board at Mt. Hope Montessori School. I currently am chairman of the board of New Samaritan Corporation, which is the largest developer and manager of affordable housing for senior citizens in the State of Connecticut. New Samaritan owns and operates Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, as well as Juniper Hill Village and Glen Ridge. I am on the boards of the latter two organizations. I was an active parent volunteer when our son was at the Vinton School.

Why are you running for office? I believe that Mansfield has an exceptional quality of life. My family and I have been beneficiaries of the many good things that Mansfield has to offer, particularly the excellent quality of our public schools and the community center. Mansfield is facing challenges on many fronts, including question of how to deal with the loss of state aid, as well as decisions on the future of our public schools. I want to play a role in those discussions and decisions.
 
If elected, what would be your primary areas of focus? 1) Working with my colleagues on the Council and with town staff to maintain services at a time of shrinking state aid. 2) Carefully considering all of the potential options for the future of our public schools. 3) Working towards expanding our tax base, with an eye towards reducing our overwhelming dependence on residential property owners. 4) Monitoring the progress of Storrs Center. 5) Ensuring that our town complies with the letter and spirit of our freedom of information laws, with a commitment to transparent government.

What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Mansfield today? Maintaining our commitment to Mansfield's extraordinary quality of life at a time of decreasing outside revenue.

What skills do you have that you could bring to the community? I believe that I am a good listener.  Civility in public discourse is, in my opinion, the best way to resolve issues, and I am committed to that principle.

Anything else you would like to share? I have thoroughly enjoyed my short time on the Council, and working with all 8 of my colleagues. If I am elected to a full term, I look forward to continued service.