Meet the Candidate: Steven Adler

West Hartford Patch is offering a new feature – "Meet the Candidate" – which is designed to help you get to know your local candidates before the November 8 election. Each profile has been 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. Once they have been published, all profiles will be easily accessed through the "Elections 2011" tab at the top of the home page.

Name: Steven Adler

Age: 50

Party, Position Seeking: Republican, Seeking a 3rd Term on the West Hartford Town Council

Family information: My beautiful wife Darlene, son Josh and I have been residents of West Hartford for over 14 years happily living in the Whiting Lane area.

Occupation, if applicable: I’m a Manager of Privacy and Compliance for UnitedHealthcare’s Legal, Compliance and Regulatory Practice. 

Political Experience: In 2007 and reelected again in 2009 to the West Hartford Town Council. Currently a standing member on the town’s Administration and Technology Committee in addition to being a Legislative Liaison to the Connecticut General Assembly. In prior Council terms I served on other administrative committees to include Public Safety, Human/Leisure Services and Community Planning. Prior to being elected to the Town Council I was on West Hartford’s Town Planning and Zoning (TPZ) and represented the town on the Capital Region Councils of Government’s (CRCOG) Planning Committee.

Other Experience: In 2011 I was appointed as a Director to the Board of Trustees for the West Hartford Children’s Museum. The Adlers have been delivering meals for the Hartford Salvation Army for over 14 years. Over the last 10 years we have also supported My Sister’s Place in Hartford. I love biking at the MDC reservoir and around town. Finally I’m a licensed Amateur Radio Operator. My station call sign is KB1KTF.

Why did you run for office? Simply put to help those who need a helping hand to continue to live in West Hartford. There are many residents who are financially challenged but continue to want to live here because of the education for their kids and the excellent services provided by the town.

If elected, what would be your primary areas of focus? (Two areas): 1. Ways to manage key cost drivers and 2. Economic Development. We need to reduce the tax burden off our residents and balance it with better commercial tax revenue.

What do you feel is the biggest issue facing West Hartford today? Affordability.

What skills do you have that you could bring to the community? My municipal experience to include 3 budgets I’ve personally worked on resulting in a net increase of 1.60%. In addition my business background in areas of strategic planning, operations, process integration and budgets.  Finally my ability to build effective relationships by understanding others perspectives, influencing through sharing ideas and accepting differences.

(Optional) Anything else you would like to share? For more information, visit http://stevenadlerforwesthartford.blogspot.com