Dear Fellow Norwalker,
It’s that time of the year again: election season. Before you get bombarded with promises about what candidates want to do, I want to tell you a bit about me and what I have already done.
First and foremost, I am a lifelong resident of Norwalk. I’ve attended Norwalk Public Schools and chose to raise my family here. I care about Norwalk because it’s important to recognize that we are a small part of a larger community that I was fortunate to grow up with. Quiet and safe neighborhoods where our children can play and we can enjoy the parks and ambiance of a small town with the urban resources of a larger city.
Over the years, I’ve worked with neighbors to make all of our neighborhoods a better place to live. It is important that we work together to achieve a sense of community. I have served on various boards and agencies, such as: the Child Guidance Center of Mid Fairfield, NEON, Connecticut Community Technical Colleges Board of Trustees, Keystone House, Historical Commission, Save Cranbury Association, Human Services Council, among others.
A Commitment to Quality of life in Our Neighborhoods
As a council member, I’ve tried to make sure that taxpayers’ money is spent in a prudent manner along requiring accountability for its expenditures. I’ve supported various community organizations such as Save Cranbury, Nash, Norwalk Land Trust, Friends of Cranbury Park and others in acquiring and maintaining open space and parks within our community.
It is vitally important to improve and maintain the city infrastructure. Items, such as bridge repairs, road improvements, addressing flood-prone areas, are not glamorous, but are critical to the health of our district and to our city.
I promise to continue:
• To work tirelessly to assure that our community retains its friendly neighborhood atmosphere.
• To demand accountability from our school board.
• To provide honest and open discussion of your tax money, striving to use it in the most efficient and prudent manner.
• Efforts to acquire open space and improve maintenance and use of our parks.
• To work to develop prudent methods to preserve Norwalk’s historical assets.
For these and many other reasons, I’m are asking for your support to re-elect me as an at-large candidate for the Norwalk Common Council.
Warm Regards,
Doug Hempstead
My Biography
Personal
• Lifelong Norwalk resident
• Married, 3 children
• Age 60
Education
• Norwalk Public Schools 1969
• BS Business Administration 1997
• MBA Business Administration 2002
Employment
• Vice President, Stew Leonard’s
• Former local small business entrepreneur
Government Experience
• Norwalk Common Council – 2003 to present
Chairman of Land Use Committee
• Zoning Commission – 1999 to 2002
• Chairperson Independent Party – 1989 to 1994, 1998 to 2001
• City Council – 1985 to 1995
• Council President – 1989; 1994
• Former Common Council Majority Leader
• Former DPW Chairman – 8 years
• Former Council Committee member:
• Planning, Personnel, Finance, Parks and Recreation
• Land Use, Maritime Authority, Health and Public Safety
• Mayoral Candidate – 1995; 1997
• Maritime Authority
• Historical Commission
Community
• NEON Board of Directors – Present
• Mid-Fairfield Child Guidance Center Board of Directors – Present
• Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Board of Directors – Present
• Norwalk Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors – Present
• Save Cranbury Association Board- Past
• Chairperson Norwalk Communities in Schools – Former Chairperson
• Norwalk High Fathers’ Club – Former Member
• Human Service Council Board – 1997
• CELEBRATE WOMEN Good Guy Award Recipient – 1996
• Norwalk Quality and Diversity in Education Committee – 1993 to 1995
• Former Norwalk Public Schools Mentor
• Women’s Crisis Center – Former Board Member, 1983 to 1984
• Marvin Beach Neighborhood Association – Former Treasurer; Parliamentarian
• Christopher Viesto Bone Marrow Fund – Committee Member
Former Parental Volunteer:
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- Marvin School
- Cub Scouts
- Small Fry Baseball