James Belden
Legislative Council District 3
3 Oak Ridge Dr
Newtown, CT 06470
(203) 426-6538
jbeldenpootatuck@yahoo.com
See my letters to the editor...
Age: 39
Education: BA Geography:Earth Science/Urban Planning,
University of North Carolina Greensboro-1993
Professional Experience:
Regional Marketing Manager, TransRiver Marketing, Uniondale, NY Manager, Evergreen Recycling, Flushing, NY
Executive Director, Utility Plastic Recycling, Brooklyn, NY
Public Transit Assistant Planner, Greensboro Transit Authority, Greensboro, NC
Community Service:
Planning & Zoning Commission Alternate- elected 2007
President and Member, Candlewood Valley Trout Unlimited
President, Chairman of the Board and co-founder, Pootatuck Watershed Association
Vice-Chair, CT Council of Trout Unlimited
Favorite links:
Family: Married for 10 years with three children (triplets consisting of two daughters and a son)
James and his family moved to Newtown from New Canaan, Connecticut in February of 2002. James and his wife met in New York in 1997 and have been married for ten years. Their triplets attend private school where they are in second grade and play on various athletic teams in Newtown.
James was born in Syosset, LI and had three older sisters. He later moved to New Jersey where he attended High School at Kittatinny Regional. He also spent significant time in Greenwich, CT with his father. James attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he studied Geography, completing both program cores of Earth Science and Urban Planning disciplines. James moved back to Long Island after graduation to work for a Brooklyn recycling and waste management company. This company owned and operated the nation’s largest private municipal recycling facility. Although his primary responsibility was the division which processed plastics and re-manufactured recycled plastic products, he handled many other materials in addition to managing public outreach, government relations and business development. After several years of diverse experience in the recycling business James began working for the largest waste-to-energy company in the northeast. As the New York Metropolitan Area Regional Marketing Manager for a large corporation his responsibilities included every aspect of operations, business development, client relations and business management. In the latter years at TransRiver James also managed the recycling, re-use and disposal of ash and metals from all six facilities. After his triplets were born in 2001 James’ family decided to move to Newtown at which time he became a full-time stay-at-home father.
Although James has continued to work as a consultant from time to time while raising his children, his involvement in non-profit environmental organizations has become a large part of his life. A Trout Unlimited member, he instantly became deeply involved in the local Candlewood Valley Chapter, becoming an Officer and leading many environmental and educational projects. Newtown just happens to have some of the highest priority areas for CVTU and since 2004 James has led the effort in raising hundreds of thousands of dollars, involved thousands of volunteers and increased awareness in the effort to restore, conserve and protect our natural resources. At the state level James has been an Officer of the CT State Council of Trout Unlimited where he is involved in managing the organization of several thousand members, as well as legislative and policy matters important to TU’s mission of protecting coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. James, along with others, founded the Pootatuck Watershed Association in 2005 to address the issues confronting the Pootatuck Watershed and all of Newtown’s water resources. The Pootatuck Aquifer is a sole-source aquifer which supplies most of Newtown’s water, therefore all issues affecting water quality have important health, social and environmental impacts. James and the PWA are currently working on a documentary film, in addition to many scientific research and conservation projects with its partners. The four permanent Board Members of the PWA include the Town of Newtown, CVTU, The Potatuck Club and The Newtown Forest Association.
The various projects and endeavors James has been involved in on behalf of these groups allowed him to develop many relationships and a keen knowledge of our town, its people and resources. In 2007 James was elected to the Planning & Zoning Commission as Alternate. But all the while the most important job has been raising his children and this work has been an interesting way to introduce his children to public service while creating an awareness of social and environmental issues. The Belden children, since they were three years old, have been involved in many projects where they have planted trees, sampled streams for macroinvertebrates and helped improve stream habitats.
James enjoys the outdoors and activities with friends such as mountain biking, kayaking and ultimate Frisbee. But his biggest pursuit is fly fishing and the places it takes him. Whether on a local stream, the saltwater, big rivers of the West or traveling abroad James is always finding ways to spend time on the water. Wilderness trips to remote places is of particular interest that combines a love for the outdoors, adventure and finding wild fish. On the home front James particularly likes to cook and loves good wine. He occasionally takes courses at the Culinary Institute of America to broaden and refine these interests.
James has served on the Planning & Zoning Commission as a Republican and is currently Unaffiliated. After finding dissatisfaction with the processes of the primary political Town Committees, James sought and gladly accepted the IPN endorsement for a Legislative Council seat in 2009. A true independent in thought and action, James relishes the opportunity to serve Newtown without political constraints. He believes that our town is merely comprised of neighbors that need and want the same basic things. Having a planning background, he feels strongly that a specific long-range plan, combined with sensible and well-informed decision making, should be above politics and is how we attain what we need.
As a candidate for Legislative Council James intends to be an asset with his experience and skills garnered from working with officials and organizations on projects of all sizes. With a good sense of the working parts of the Town, business experience and a logical approach, he hopes to be part of a dynamic group working to make Newtown the best it can be. To do this James believes there is a significant need for greater communication between departments and commissions, a closer relationship between the Town and School sides of government and a detailed plan for all to work towards.