I have spent nearly two decades working in corporate finance positions. I am a qualified economist, with a Masters in Ecological Economics, and I spent nearly a decade consulting with banks and energy supermajors to advise them on oil, gas and agricultural projects worldwide. I’ve led complex, multi-million-dollar initiatives which demanded rigorous financial assessments, risk management, and data-driven decision-making. I am comfortable negotiating with diverse stakeholders and finding common ground without losing sight of results. I am also incredibly invested in the future of Stamford and want long term fiscal health for a city that I plan to spend the rest of my life enjoying.

The biggest long-term challenge is executing Stamford’s multi-year school construction program while keeping our Police and Fire pensions on a disciplined, fully funded path, all while not over-pressuring the mill rate. To achieve this the city can set guardrails on borrowing and adopt a rolling 10-year capital plan with clear go/no-go gates. This would act as a living roadmap which allows for re-forecasting and therefore provides increased flexibility and transparency. Stamford needs disciplined funding, risk-aware investment policy, and data-driven oversight.

Stamford needs a balanced strategy that provides stability and flexibility. We should keep a hybrid plan—steady pay-as-you-go plus prudent bonding—considering the updated Westhill cost at around $446M. State support for Westhill was also significantly increased in 2025 covering 80% of eligible costs, which helps to remove volatility. The city has increased Fund 57 to just under $70 million, which acts as a savings account to help lower what we need to borrow and thus the interest taxpayers would pay over time. While the state will reimburse the city in the future, it’s imperative to have funds available for upfront construction costs rather than payback with interest.