Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller.
Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller said Friday he will run for a fifth — and final — term as the town’s top elected leader.
“I do plan to run one more time … but this will be my fifth and final term, if I’m lucky enough to win,” Miller said during a video taping of ‘Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast.’
Miller was first elected in 2011. Prior to that he served on the town’s Board of Finance.
Miller said he’s made it a point to work with Democrats, fellow Republicans, along with school and town employees, to get Seymour on solid financial footing. He’s been instrumental is developing a long-term strategic plan for Seymour’s finances, a move which has helped to stabilize taxes in town. He’s also enjoyed a good working relationship with administrators at Seymour Public Schools, which comprises a majority of the budget.
Miller has been eyeing higher office, having run unsuccessfully in 2018 for state comptroller.
Miller said he believes in term limits, and that — assuming he wins re-election in November — the time has come for a fresh set of eyes in Seymour Town Hall.
Republicans will likely formally nominate him to run for re-election in the summer.
If re-elected, Miller said he and the town will explore whether to build a new community center. He said the current community center on Pine Street — a former school — needs lots of work, and that the town should seriously explore a new building.
That building could include a pool, senior center, weight room, basketball court, an indoor track, and other amenities. Miller said early estimates place the cost at somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 to $12 million — though that price is a true estimate as no formal explorations of the subject have started.
But Miller said the town’s recreation activities are packed so more space is needed.
“The (current) building is obsolete and is only going to hold this department (recreation) back,” he said.
The discussions are informal at this point. Miller said there are some potential locations around town where a new community could be built — but he said the town could also investigate whether it makes more sense to team with a private developer.
That scenario could see the town lease space that a private company builds. Such a scenario could, possibly, save money.
“We have to figure out what’s the most cost-effective way to do this,” Miller said.
Look for a full, one-hour interview with Miller Monday on ValleyIndy.org. During the interview, Miller answers a number of wide-ranging questions from Facebook readers.
