Meet Martha Jankovic-Mark

My name is Martha Jankovic-Mark.  I am the Trumbull Democrat Party’s candidate for First Selectman.  I have served as your Town Council representative for the past eight years.  I have lived in Trumbull with my husband Larry for over 26 years.  We raised our three children, Jon, Alex and Larissa here, sending them through the public school system since preschool.  We’ve appreciated the wonderful quality of life offered by our town: our strong public safety system, our great public schools, our lovely parks and recreation facilities.  I would like to ensure that future generations of Trumbull’s citizens will have the same opportunities that we’ve enjoyed in this town, or better. 

My opponent is not managing the town properly.  He has supported large spending increases and is misallocating our resources.  He is not following our Town Charter, which he pushed to revise in 2011.  His party’s redistricting plan, implemented in 2012, promotes one party leadership over building more balanced, bipartisan consensus which would better represent every resident’s interest. 

I am a wife, mother, attorney, and Town Council representative.  I have a strong record of voting for what’s best for Trumbull.  I’ve voted for optimal senior tax relief and transparency in government.  I have questioned the increases in spending, including the near doubling of attorneys’ fees to my opponent’s former law firm, the use of outside consultants, and why the town is incurring increased costs due to sewers.  I have strongly opposed spending increases in our annual budgets and proposed and voted for cuts to line items deemed unreasonable and unwarranted.  I have supported cell tower placement only where human exposure is minimal.

 I have the experience, perspective, and ability to set Trumbull on a better course, with better fiscal responsibility and better management.  I would promote smarter spending, strong public safety, quality schools, and carefully planned development.  I would foster bipartisan consensus, ensure real transparency, and implement public commentary before all public meetings of Boards and Commissions. I would be candid with our taxpayers about the real increases we have recently seen: 25% increases in car and business taxes, 34% increases in sewer user fees, increases in pay to participate school fees, and masking spending through bonding.  I would work harder at increasing contributions to our town and police pensions which are seriously underfunded.  I would return the Town Council to seven districts and more balanced representation.  I would promote volunteerism in every aspect of our community. In developing our town, I would preserve our natural resources and protect communities.   

My educational background includes the following:  LLM in Taxation from Boston University School of Law, JD from University of Bridgeport School of Law, BA from University of Connecticut in Slavic and East European Studies/ Business, Certificate in Advanced Russian and Cultural Studies from Leningrad State University, and Certificate in Intensive Russian from Yale.    

After four years of contentiousness, let’s implement caring competence.  Under my leadership, there will be truth, transparency, and trust.  For more information, see www.marthafortrumbull.com.