RTM Rep. Announces Bid for Re-election

[Editor's note: The following information was provided in a press release.]

District One Representative Michael D. Herley announced Friday his re-election campaign for the Fairfield Representative Town Meeting.

Herley, who has earned a reputation as one of the more engaged members of the RTM, has been a strong advocate for District One and the neighborhoods he represents on the RTM. 

“I am a proud member of the District One delegation and am excited to continue the District’s work with my fellow members as we head into the home stretch of this RTM session,” Herley said.  

Herley has served as the Chairman of the RTM’s Public Health & Safety (PH&S) Committee since December 2011. Under his leadership, PH&S has become one of the most active committees on the RTM.  In addition to its regular monthly committee meetings, PH&S has sponsored detailed tours/meetings with the Fairfield Police Department, Fairfield Fire Department and the Health Department, including a public forum to review the Town’s Emergency Response Plan leading up to Hurricane Sandy. PH&S is currently planning a tour of the Police Department’s Marine unit. 

The purpose of these special committee meetings is to develop detailed knowledge of the Town’s health and safety infrastructure among PH&S committee members so they are better informed for budget hearings, are able to act as liaisons with the Town’s public safety departments on behalf of constituents, and are a resource for other RTM members on the issue of public health and safety. Herley previously served as the Secretary for the PH&S Committee.

Herley is particularly proud of working closely with District One residents to make the district's neighborhoods safer. In December 2011, he formed a virtual “eyes and ears” of the community group in the Mill Hill section of Southport at a time when a perpetrator was stealing Christmas packages from residents’ doorsteps. This neighborhood watch group remains active today and now has nearly 200 families in the immediate area participating. The group was mobilized during both Hurricane Sandy and Winter Storm Nemo to assist impacted residents with key information and support to weather the storms.

Today, Herley is keenly focused on keeping Fairfield affordable through disciplined spending designed to slow the rate of growth within the Town’s budget.

Further commenting on Friday's announcement, Herley remarked, “I am very proud of the work the Republican-led RTM, Board of Finance and Selectman Kiley have done this past budget season to slow the rate of spending. To keep our Town affordable, we must put Fairfield first and work collaboratively to: (1) pursue labor contracts that are fair to the Town and its employees, while addressing our Town’s long-term structural issues; (2) make prudent investments across our educational system; (3) properly fund our long-term financial obligations (4) maintain our “AAA” credit rating; (5) only pursue bond capital projects that are appropriate; and (6) drive efficiencies across operations on a Town-wide scale. 

In addition, the senior tax relief ordinance passed by the RTM earlier this year is another bright spot that will provide meaningful tax savings to our seniors," he said.

Herley added, “District One is a unique part of our Town that is home to beautiful beachside communities, historic buildings and landmarks, and a rich cultural history that helps to define Fairfield as one of the most desirable communities to live in across Fairfield County. It has been an honor to represent District One voters over the past 3+ years and it is a responsibility I take very seriously.  I hope to have the support of all area residents as we move into the general election cycle. I would like to take a moment to recognize the other Town and State officials who have endorsed my candidacy and all of the other kind words of encouragement I have received from so many friends and neighbors -- thank you all very much!"

The Republican Caucus to select which candidates will represent the party takes place on Tuesday, July 23 from 4-8 pm at Fairfield Ludlowe High School. Please be sure to come out and cast your ballot.

Concurrent with this announcement, Herley was endorsed by the following State and Local officials:

• RTM Majority Leader Joe Palmer
• RTM Moderator Jeff Steele
• RTM Deputy Majority Leader Ed Bateson
• RTM Finance Committee Chairman Peter Ambrose
• District One RTM Rep. David Becker
• Board of Education (BOE) Vice Chairman Pam Iacono
• BOE Member and former District One RTM Rep. Paul Fattibene
• Parking Authority of Fairfield Chairman Ron Pine
• Board of Finance (BOF) Chairman Tom Flynn
• BOF member, former Selectman and former RTM Moderator Jim Walsh
• Selectman Kevin Kiley
• State Rep. Brenda Kupchick
• State Rep. Tony Hwang

About Michael D. Herley

Michael D. Herley is a Fairfield RTM Representative for District One proudly serving friends and neighbors in Southport, parts of Mill Hill, Southport Woods, Sasco Hill, Old Dam, Pine Creek, Oldfield, Veres Park, and Reef Road (West), among other neighborhoods. He has been the Chairman of the RTM’s Public Health and Safety (PH&S) Committee since December 2011. Herley previously served as the Secretary for the PH&S Committee.  Herley is also an elected member of the Fairfield Republican Town Committee for District One.  He is currently a Managing Director at a leading corporate, strategic, and financial communications firm in NYC.

Herley is a member and supporter of the Southport Conservancy and the Pequot Library, as well as a supporter of the Southport Fire Department. He is a former board member at Trinity Parish Nursery School in Southport, as well as the former Southport Representative and Vice Chairman of the Parking Authority of Fairfield. While on the Parking Authority, he worked closely on the rebuild of Historic Southport train station following the devastating fire in January 2008.

He is a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Fairfield and the Gaelic American Club of Fairfield. Herley has lived in Southport for 10+ years. He is married to Melissa McClaine and has three children.

Herley holds an MBA in Corporate Finance from St. John’s University; an Advanced Certificate in Business Administration (management specialization) from the University of Connecticut; and an MS in Mathematics from Fairfield University.