Regina Pinn, a Democrat running for Simsbury's Board of Finance, announced her campaign in remarks to a town meeting and said she would prioritize fiscal discipline, affordability and transparency. She urged voters to begin early voting on Oct. 20 and to vote on Nov. 4.

Pinn framed her pitch around the town's financial footing, saying Simsbury "maintains a triple a bond rating and can invest in cost saving projects like the New Paths Special Education building because of this infrastructure." She said strong financial structure "provides transparency about where our money is going and ensures that it is being used well," and that it allows the town to "manage our debt and invest in capital projects."

Pinn cited her personal and professional experience as the basis for her candidacy. "I'm Regina Pinn. I'm a Democrat running for board of finance on November 4," she said. She told the meeting she and her husband moved to Simsbury a decade ago, described herself as "a proud Central School family," said she holds two engineering degrees and works in advanced technology and manufacturing, and noted seven years of service on the town's Board of Assessment Appeals reviewing home and property evaluations.

On affordability and taxes, Pinn said, "Taxes are paid in the sweat of everyone who labors," characterizing that as a paraphrase of a Franklin D. Roosevelt quote, and said that experience on the assessment board "drove home that every dollar we spend in our beautiful town is a dollar coming out of our pockets or out of our neighbors' pockets." She described the town's strength as tied to retired residents, at-home parents and local business owners and said the Board of Finance should help keep the town affordable for those groups.

Pinn closed by reminding voters of early voting and the election date and asked for support. "Early voting starts October 20. I'm Regina Pinn, and I hope I've earned your vote," she said.

Her remarks were delivered as personal remarks to the meeting; no formal action or vote by the governing body followed from the transcript excerpt.