1. What motivated you to run for office this year, and what do you hope to accomplish if elected as an alternate on the Zoning Commission?
a. I was motivated through Kamala’s campaign, and Nick Menapace just happened to knock on my door--he really motivated me to come out and do something for our community. So, I started by just sending out postcards to voters and then found that I just wanted to get even more involved. I’m fortunate in that my job and my life allow me to have the time to dedicate to our town, I want to balance the small-town quaint feel and find ways to make sure that our taxes are not too high.
2. What do you see as the single biggest issue facing East Lyme right now?
a. Unfortunately, like so much of our country, our town is also very much divided right now, and I want to see people work together for the greater good of our community. I don’t like the divisiveness in our country, and I see this is as creeping down into our town in ways that are definitely not great for our long-term health, our long-term survival as a happy and vibrant community. So, let’s find all the ways we can to work together to improve things.
3. How would you balance keeping our town affordable with maintaining strong schools, services, and infrastructure?
a. I think we need commerce to help to do that. We must be choosy about which businesses come to our town, and that is the ideal way to help offset costs for our residents. To make sure that the businesses we support can thrive but also that our citizens can also benefit, use those businesses and not get lost amidst all the high costs of providing services to all.
4. What experience or perspective do you bring that you feel will help you serve effectively on your board/committee?
a. I have had the privilege of remodeling our home. I had a one-family home, and then when my parents wanted to move in with me, so I went through the process of turning my one-family home into a two-family home. I know the ins and outs of the regulations. That was not a pleasant process. If residents want to do something to benefit their families, we need to make it easier for them.
5. How do you think local government can do a better job of listening to residents and building trust?
a. I just like being out there and being available, and I think that’s a simple model that any town official can also have. I love how our First Selectman, Dan Cunningham, is always available to listen—this weekend’s Donuts with Democrats is such a simple example of that and how Dan reaches out to people to hear what they have to say. People want to approach the candidates, and the candidates absolutely need to hear from them.
6. What’s your favorite spot in East Lyme or Niantic, and why?
a. Hole in the Wall and the Boardwalk. I am a beach girl at heart. I just love how chill the beach is, and the Boardwalk is just so beautiful. We can do better for our bodies while walking in a safe place along with it being a beautiful environment.
7. If you could plan a perfect Saturday in East Lyme, what would it include?
a. Wake up and walk the Boardwalk. And then grab a bite to eat from Giuliano’s, their egg sandwiches are the best. Then I would go home and bake something, I would spend the afternoon on Hole in the Wall Beach. Then I would get take-out from Family Pizza on Main Street and then listen to a band at McCook’s bandshell, then take my dog Max for a walk outside. He just loves to sit outside of Gumdrops & Lollipops and just watch people. That’s all within walking distance from my house so I wouldn’t have to get in my car for any of that.
8. What is one local business you think everyone in town should know about and support?
a. Café Sole, I just think they are a great place to get food and to get coffee. And it’s a cool place to hang out.
9. Who is someone in our community (past or present) that you admire, and why?
a. Roseanne Hardy, she was my middle school history teacher, and she is still involved to this day with the betterment of our community.
10. If East Lyme had a town mascot, what would you nominate?
a. A scallop, I guess we already have the Vikings through the high school and that’s great, but the scallop is good because we are a coastal town, and it is sourced in our local waters.
11. Campaigning can be stressful -- what’s your go-to comfort food or snack during the season?
a. I just started my sourdough bread journey, and I am really enjoying making the sour dough starter and baking that kind of bread.
12. If you could instantly become an expert in any completely unrelated field (music, carpentry, juggling chainsaws), what would it be?
a. I would like to know more about the ins and outs of the Zoning Commission. I want to be as knowledgeable as Bill Mulholland is.
13. What’s the most unusual or surprising job you’ve ever had?
a. I was a lifeguard. It was one of my first jobs, I really got to know the people of Crescent Beach. That was just fun to be on the beach and just get paid for it. And it was a great sense of community feeling.
14. If you had to give East Lyme a new slogan, what would it be? (Bonus points if it’s funny but true.)
a. The greatest small town that you probably never expected.
15. When you need a laugh, what’s your favorite guilty-pleasure?
a. Tik-Tok, I am a Tik-Tokker, I just love the stupid things on there that make me laugh. A really nice way to decompress.