Hometown Roots and Family Legacy
Kurt Cavanaugh’s story is a Glastonbury tale through and through. When his late parents chose the town 56 years ago as the setting to raise their family, they planted the roots of a lifetime commitment to community service and civic responsibility. Those childhood years, spent playing football in the front yard and teaching his sister Karen to ride a bike, established the values of family, friends, faith, and responsibility that guide him to this day. Remarkably, the very house that witnessed these foundational experiences is the one he calls home today.

A Tradition of Service
The Cavanaugh family has woven their legacy into the very fabric of Glastonbury. Kurt’s older brother, Kent, initiated the family’s commitment to public service by joining the Glastonbury Fire Department Co. #4. Inspired by his brother’s dedication, Kurt followed in his footsteps, later transitioning into the role of a special police officer in the Glastonbury Police Department. He also drove a school bus in the community for many years. The tradition lives on through Kurt’s nephew, Neal, who serves as a Glastonbury Police Officer and K-9 handler. This generational service is a testament to their enduring connection to the town.

Political Career and Achievements
Kurt’s engagement in local governance began early. At the tender age of 30, he broke records by becoming the youngest individual ever elected to the Board of Fire Commissioners in Glastonbury. His political career has been extensive, including a 28-year tenure on the Town Council and involvement in various boards and commissions. These years in the public sector have given him invaluable insight into the mechanics of community development and governance.

I don’t see myself voting for a mural on town hall. Especially in a historic district. I don’t care what other communities have done. This is not a coloring pallet. This is a building that’s owned and paid for by taxpayers, and I don’t think we should be putting murals on them.

September 26th 2023, town council meeting

Mission and Philosophy
The core of Kurt’s political mission is refreshingly straightforward: deliver the best possible services to the community at the lowest possible cost, while preserving the town’s historical New England character. Known for his unflinching tenacity, Kurt is never shy about asking the tough questions or ruffling feathers if it serves the greater good of the community. However, he pairs this assertiveness with a profound respect for civil discourse and bipartisan cooperation, valuing the power of diverse perspectives in problem-solving.

Kurt’s Quote from Glastonbury Life
The biggest single issue today is the destruction of this town’s character by reckless demolition of the buildings that define us and new construction that fits a developer’s national “brand” and not our brand as a New England town. I proposed a Village District for the Town Center to control demolition of iconic buildings; beefed up design standards for all development; and joined my colleagues in demanding better design and more preservation of existing buildings for the development proposed across Main Street from the Center Green. Past developments, like the Main Street CVS and Walgreens, Somerset Square, and the Oak Street Stop & Shop demonstrate that you can have new development that blends with our history, but you have to demand it.

Voting History

Affordable Housing

Social Issues

Education

Business

Town Management

Senior Citizens

Citizen Questions

The range of response: strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree

What are the three greatest challenges facing the community, and how will you address them?

The biggest single issue today is the destruction of Glastonbury’s character by reckless demolition of the buildings that define us and new construction that fits a developer’s national “brand” and not our brand as a New England town. I spearheaded the approval of a Village District for the Town Center to control demolition of iconic buildings; participated in a working group that developed design guidelines and beefed up design standards for all development; and joined my colleagues in demanding better design and more preservation of existing buildings for the development proposed across Main Street from the Center Green. I will continue to demonstrate you can have new development that blends with our history, but you have to demand it.

Zoning ordinances in town do not allow for adequate supply of housing across the income spectrum.

Disagree. GOP majorities built all of the senior housing for the past 50 years or so, rezoned land south of Great Swamp Road and east of Addison Road from industrial to small-lot single family to provide housing opportunity; did the same at Tara Hill/Hebron Avenue. We’ve adopted PAD regulation allowing higher-density housing. Glastonbury Republicans have been sensitive to the need for a range of housing opportunities and have taken action to address the issue.

Towns should implement programs to remove food waste from the trash stream.

Neither agree nor disagree. The Town of Glastonbury has already implemented this program and it can be accessed at the rear of the Academy building.

Letters to Editor

You can often learn a great deal about a candidate from their letters written to the Glastonbury Citizen. The link to to the letter text is found in the dates below.

The letter advocates for a bi-partisan initiative to create a town center village district in Glastonbury, aimed at preserving the town’s historic architectural character and giving the Planning and Zoning Commission a tool to prevent undesirable building designs.

Spring 2021 (cowrote with Tom Gullotta)

Republican Open Forum

ChatGPT was asked to describe Kurt given the text of the Republican Open Forum.

  • Emphasizes the need for a new town manager to bring fresh eyes to the town’s budget.
  • Believes that new GOP council members can help identify savings.
  • Prioritizes keeping living in town sustainable and making a difference.