Brian Leonardi

My name is Brian Leonardi and I am running for Legislative Council, 1st District.  I look forward to using my four years of experience on the Board of Education and the Planning & Zoning commission to guide Newtown’s future.  If elected to Legislative Council, I am committed to providing thoughtful and pragmatic leadership grounded in the ideals of fiscal responsibility and limited government.  Together we can ensure that Newtown remains a safe and affordable place to live. 

My wife and I have lived in town since 2016, and our two daughters attend Newtown Public Schools.  I am deeply committed to Newtown’s future and ensuring that it operates in a fiscally sound manner.  Delivering outstanding public services while minimizing the impact of taxation to our residents is critical to maintaining Newtown’s reputation as a desirable place to live and raise a family. 

Professionally, I am a licensed attorney and have practiced in an in-house capacity for the past 12 years.  I presently serve as Vice President, Associate General Counsel, Chief of Staff at Sompo International Holdings Ltd., a global leader in commercial (re)insurance. This experience has honed my ability to navigate complex legal landscapes, manage global budgets, and work collaboratively on intricate matters – skills which I will bring to bear on behalf of Newtown if elected to Legislative Council.

In my most recent role in town government, I have served as a member of the Board of Education.  In this role, I have tackled several challenging issues facing the district, including the identification of a new Superintendent and performing line-by-line analysis of the district’s budget.  While not always voicing a popular opinion, I have focused my energy on ensuring that each taxpayer dollar is used wisely and that every effort is made to keep year over year increases minimal. 

Prior to serving on the Board of Education, I was elected as an Alternate Commissioner for the Planning & Zoning Commission.  During my time on Planning & Zoning, the Commission was faced with an increasing number of complex and contentious applications. In every instance, I meaningfully contributed to discussions and demonstrated leadership in thoroughly and diligently assessing each application against our zoning regulations.