1. What motivated you to run for Board of Education this year, and what do you hope to accomplish if elected?
My motivation for serving the community came from my son, who has gone through the system, and has benefitted immensely from going through the school system. This is my way of giving back. I have served on the Board for the last 2 years and I have found that experience very gratifying and it has also humbled me as I realized what the needs of the community are. I believe I have the qualifications and the insight needed to serve on the Board of Ed.
2. What do you see as the single biggest issue facing East Lyme right now?
We have to continue to maintain our schools’ standards while keeping the cost of education down. And extrapolating that sentiment to our community, considering that the cost of living has gone up considerably. We have to strike a balance at the school with the needs of the costs of maintaining the community services. It’s not going to be easy, it is a challenge. We must make some sacrifices and therefore we need people who understand these details to ensure that we are not sacrificing the future of our children’s education in order for some immediate other community gain, and it will require a lot of hard work for people serving on the boards.
4. What experience or perspective do you bring that you feel will help you serve effectively on your board/committee?
I bring the fact that I have had a successful son who has gone through the system, and through his experiences and I would like to ensure that others have the same opportunities. I also have a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, and I do understand what is needed to be academically successful in the future. At the same time, if our children are considering a career in trades, what is necessary to allow them to be successful also. I’ve been in drug development for the last 20-25 years and I bring that perspective of having been successful. I liked to continue to maintain what my son experienced for our future students.
5. How do you think local government can do a better job of listening to residents and building trust?
We need to have continuous outreach with the community. That is something we need to do better. A lot of the times life gets in the way that we must deal with immediately. To the BOE, we have done some initiatives in which we request feedback from the community, we need to continue to do that and also expand it in the future. From a broader community perspective, the same point, it’s all about engagement. What is the best forum? Giving more access to the public generally to be able to voice their concerns is the primary thing we should be doing to help communication.
6. What’s your favorite spot in East Lyme or Niantic, and why?
It is by far the Boardwalk. You can constantly see me walking in the evenings whether it is summer or winter. I spend a lot of my free time there, it is the most calming spot that I can imagine. It is a sublime experience to sit on the benches overlooking Niantic Bay, and I just love it!
7. If you could plan a perfect Saturday in East Lyme, what would it include?
I would include a bike ride through all of the communities in the Niantic area. There are a lot of roads that allows for a 16-mile ride along the coast. I’d grab a sandwich at either Sift or some other Niantic shop. Maybe grab a donut too way up in Flanders, if they are open that late.
8. What is one local business you think everyone in town should know about and support?
I have to say two. One is Deke’s Bagels, they are local, and I would really like to support them. Ther is also Whitegate Farms, a farm that grows a lot of different vegetables and has great baked foods. There is also Scott Farms, again some fantastic vegetables and I love to support them.
9. Who is someone in our community (past or present) that you admire, and why?
Two people come to mind. First is a Surgeon Consultant for the Ledgelight District, his name is Dr. Vijay Shikhand. He has been serving the community for decades, a resident for 20 or more years and his kids have gone through our school system. He was involved in the development of the original vaccine for Lyme Disease and conducted many trials to get that vaccine developed. He brings a lot of medical knowledge to our community. The second person is Dan Cunningham, our First Selectman. He has been selflessly serving the community for a very long time. He is very dedicated as our lead official in East Lyme,, and he has been so quietly effective. I hope we give him the chance to continue serving us, because we can all benefit from his knowledge and commitment.
10. If East Lyme had a town mascot, what would you nominate?
We have the East Lyme High Viking, it has to be that. It is our school mascot, and it deserves for everyone to know more about it. We are persistent in East Lyme, just like Vikings were when they began their journeys all those years go.
11. Campaigning can be stressful -- what’s your go-to comfort food or snack during the season?
I am not much of a snacker. I usually like a cup of tea, my favorite variety is a more involved preparation where you brew the tea with milk and some spices and a little bit of sugar. It’s called chai in the Indian vernacular, but that really helps me get over the stress of campaigning.
12. If you could instantly become an expert in any completely unrelated field (music, carpentry, juggling chainsaws), what would it be?
It has to be artificial intelligence. AI has the potential to change the world. We need more understanding of what the capabilities are, because it is so important for our future.
13. What’s the most unusual or surprising job you’ve ever had?
I’ve never worked outside the drug development industry. But within it, I have been asked by a small company that wanted to use my expertise to help me design their dosage forms. I didn’t realize my training could actually help with something like that. My life has been pretty linear actually so while that might sound technical and not surprising, but that job was a surprise to me.
14. If you had to give East Lyme a new slogan, what would it be?
Great schools, great value, great town!
15. When you need a laugh, what’s your best guilty pleasure?
I usually enjoy stand up comedians. Like Jerry Seinfeld, Ray Romano, and a couple of Indian stand ups. One of them is Vir Das, he is exceptional.