An Open Letter to Willington Residents:

My name is Christina Beebe Mailhos and I am a candidate for First Selectman in my hometown, Willington.   I have been asked about my qualifications for this office.  In addition to 10 years of professional experience working as a strategic planner in advertising and marketing in New York City, I have degrees from Emerson College and New York University and have learned volumes from the volunteer work I’ve done in town.  I have experience supervising, motivating and focusing people.  This qualifies me.  More importantly, because I grew up here I am as “Willington” as a person can get, but I also have the perspective of someone who has lived other places and I think that means something to those of you who will consider voting for me.  

It is my motivation to get the job done that sets me apart from the other candidates running for First Selectman.  I am motivated by my children who go to school in Willington, my parents who are retired in Willington, my brother who owns a small business in Willington and my husband who has adopted Willington has his hometown.  I care about the future of this town because it is intertwined with the futures of my family and friends.

A Sentinel Party has been asking you “What’s your vision for Willington?”  I think you deserve an answer to this question from me and anyone else running for First Selectman. 

Quite simply, I want Willington  to look and feel the same in 30 years (with a few improvements) so if my children decide to settle down here with their families it will feel like home to them.  I want my parents and their friends, our senior citizens, to stick around and not go south in search of lower taxes.   I want people like my brother, our small business owners, to prosper.   The rural character of Willington is the reason why people choose to move to Willington and is the reason why we stay.  But we need a little more in town, specifically, a thriving retail area near Phelps Crossing and a few more conveniences. I’d like to see more people involved in things like town government, the fire departments, schools, scouts, little league, etc.  because these things wouldn’t exist without volunteers and also because we need successful role models for our children.   These are the things that make a town a real community.  Finally, I want our children to grow up proud to be from Willington – to know that even if we aren’t as big or fancy as other towns that we have something special here that can’t be bought.

It’s really a simple vision, but achieving this will not magically happen.  We need to plan for it or the opportunity will slip away and Willington will become just another suburb.  I have corporate experience doing exactly this kind of planning.  I have experience in managing big budgets.  I know how to juggle multiple projects.  I have a track record of collaborating and working well with others.  I have inspired people to get involved.  I understand how the town runs and I know what this town is about at its core.  I am highly motivated to take Willington into a future that improves on the best of what we have today.

If you share my vision and agree it’s time to get serious about Willington’s future, please vote Sentinel on Row C on Nov. 3.  

Christina Beebe Mailhos