1. What motivated you to run for office this year, and what do you hope to accomplish if elected?
I had two motivations, one life-long and the other situational. I grew up as a "military brat" and the concept of service and a strong work ethic were engrained in me by my father. Since moving to East Lyme in 2006, I have served on the Inland Wetlands Agency, Zoning Commission and Board of Assessment Appeals. When the East Lyme Democratic Town Committee asked me to run for Board of Finance, I was honored and humbled. The situational motivation...I have two children and for over 10 years I have been following closely the school budgeting process. I am very proud of the quality education our East Lyme students receive. My son was well prepared to go to college and I continue to be amazed with the knowledge, skills and professionalism of our East Lyme educators and their teams. The disconnect for me has been watching the dramatic flare for which our school budget is vetted and approved. With our school budget being the majority of our town's budget, we owe it to all of our residents to have an engaged Board of Finance and Board of Education that works collaboratively throughout the course of the year to demystify and reduce the crisis situation that tends to unfold each year. That is what I am signing up for should I be elected.
2. What do you see as the single biggest issue facing East Lyme right now?
My greatest concern and what I believe will be East Lyme's biggest issue over the next few years is the potential for the State of Connecticut to reduce funding to our town (all towns) given the likelihood that our Federal government will reduce state allocations for specific programs. I am seeing this happen in my professional life where I served as the Chief Operating Officer for Child & Family Agency of Southeastern CT, where we have numerous State funded contracts and grants that are being impacted by Federal changes. If this were to occur, East Lyme will need a structured process with experienced leadership to reduce and control our expenses.
3. How would you balance keeping our town affordable with maintaining strong schools, services, and infrastructure?
Having worked in the healthcare industry for over 25 years, I have significant experience working to eliminate or reduce non-essential costs with the intent of preserving high quality care at the lowest cost possible. My personal strategy in these situations is to focus on preserving jobs as work cannot get done without knowledgeable staff to ensure essential services are preserved. I prefer to focus on non-salary expenses such as service contracts, supply and facilities related costs. In my experience these areas are where we can be innovative and creative in our cost savings often times leading to better services at a lower cost.
4. What experience or perspective do you bring that you feel will help you serve effectively on your board/committee?
In my experience having served on various Boards and Committees, it is very important to listen first and to fully understand what the issues are and what the different perspectives of the other Committee members are. I focus on confirming where we have agreement. By focusing on commonality, it is much easier to build trusting relationships. Trusted relationships organically build collaboration and collaboration gets things accomplished. Based on my observations, I believe this is where the Board of Finance and the Board of Education need to focus.
5. How do you think local government can do a better job of listening to residents and building trust?
There are several complexities for local government to navigate engaging our residents:
We are an extremely busy society; everyone is juggling multiple interests and multiple priorities.
The COVID pandemic taught us all how to engage virtually, but for many it is not the preferred way to engage.
Social media doesn't always feel safe as it has the ability to tear people down more than promoting good
I believe local government needs to design multiple easy ways for our residents to offer their feedback. We need to accept the constructive feedback and publish it to the community. Then our Town leadership needs to select a few important elements of the feedback and take action to implement change. The best way to build trust is to demonstrate the ability to change for the better.
6. What’s your favorite spot in East Lyme or Niantic, and why?
I really enjoy driving through town and parking at Cini Memorial Park. Hopping out with my dog, Shamus O'Riley, and walking the beach along the Boardwalk. I find being near the water quite calming and it melts the stress away.
7. If you could plan a perfect Saturday in East Lyme, what would it include?
I would start by going on a long bicycle ride around East Lyme with our rolling hills. Breakfast at my favorite spot in Flanders. Heading down to McCook's Park for some fun in the sun, catching up on some reading and watching the sunset. Back home for a shower and then out for dinner with good friends after a lengthy debate on which fabulous restaurant in Niantic to go to.
8. What is one local business you think everyone in town should know about and support?
Pinspiration - 15 Chesterfield Road - everyone in East Lyme needs a turn at splatter painting with cape and googles on. Who says you aren't better than Jason Pollock?
9. Who is someone in our community (past or present) that you admire, and why?
There are a number of amazing teachers at the Flanders Elementary School that deserve huge shout outs for all of the expertise, support, and kindness they demonstrated to my two children during their time there....Mr Gary White, Mr Patrick Daly, and Ms. Lisa Vaudreuil. Thank you for everything you did to help both of my children reach their potential.
10. If East Lyme had a town mascot, what would you nominate?
Sea Gull....the nice kind that doesn't steal your snacks on the beach
11. Campaigning can be stressful -- what’s your go-to comfort food or snack during the season?
Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Yogurt
12. If you could instantly become an expert in any completely unrelated field (music, carpentry, juggling chainsaws), what would it be?
I would really like to know how to fix / maintain an automotive engine
13. What’s the most unusual or surprising job you’ve ever had?
This will show my age....when I was in college, I had a work-study job where three times a week I had to go to the most remote classroom on campus (where they held freshman calculus and other grueling courses) and I had to wash the blackboards and pound the erasers to remove the chalk dust.
14. If you had to give East Lyme a new slogan, what would it be? (Bonus points if it’s funny but true.)
You will come for the Schools....and stay because of everything else
15. When you need a laugh, what’s your best guilty-pleasure?
Movie: The Princess Bride
