I come from a working class background and am deeply passionate about realizing change for average people. Before retiring, my father worked as a union electrician, while my mother works at a local pharmacy. Their hard work to raise our family has always inspired me, from my research on working class movements in college and organizing Amazon workers to go on strike in New York, to my job with Senator Blumenthal, a timeless advocate for working people. They likewise inspired me to run for the Board of Representatives, where I will look to make life more affordable for working people like them.

I am highly organized and pay deep attention to detail in my work as a statewide scheduler for Senator Blumenthal, where I must plan and execute the Senator’s busy calendar and coordinate the logistics for his appearances around the state. I look forward to using these skills to manage my own schedule, planning meetings with constituents, researching issues, and collaborating with colleagues to create good policy.

I am a team player and I welcome discussion with people of all views and backgrounds. I have worked professionally for local election campaigns and union organizing efforts, where it is my job to meet people where they are to have conversations on difficult issues like politics and one’s employment situation. Using these skills, I will look to amplify the voice of residents and work with my colleagues in the city government to achieve what is best for District 8.

My top priority issue is bringing much needed infrastructure improvements to our district in order to make our community safer and reduce congestion. Many roads in the district are in desperate need of repaving. We need more sidewalks and to improve existing sidewalks so that pedestrians can travel around our neighborhood safely. We need stricter enforcement of speeding violations on busy roads like Seaside and Courtland Aves. We need more crosswalks and flashing lights so that residents can cross the street without fear, and creative solutions to slow down cars. We also need to invest in making our bus system more efficient, so that there are more options for people to get around the city. In the coming term, I will look to facilitate improvements to pedestrian infrastructure around Exit 9 on I-95 within my capacity on the Board of Representatives.

Development responsibilities within the City of Stamford, such as the building of new apartments, condominiums, townhouses, and more, ultimately lie with the Planning and Zoning Boards, not the Board of Representatives. I will do what I can in my capacity to ensure smart growth which lowers the cost of housing.

The Affordable Housing Trust Fund’s management is ultimately not under the Board of Representatives’ discretion. In general, we must ensure the largest developers are paying their fair share into the AHTF, while simultaneously not stifling the development of small, essential businesses.