What in your background serves you best in the office you’re running to hold?

One reason I’m confident that I will be able to serve in this office is that I have done so successfully in the past.  I have served on the Legislative Council already for six years.  In that time, I served on the Ordinance Committee, where I worked to craft laws that served to improve our roads, promote environmental responsibility, and make Newtown more affordable for seniors struggling to make ends meet on a fixed income.  I also served as the Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee, overseeing Newtown’s Fund Balance Policy and Capital Improvement Plan Policy.

What do you think are the most important traits necessary for anyone running for office to do a good job in the role of public servant?

I believe an important trait for someone running for office is to have a real understanding of the needs of their community.  Generally, the people who get involved in politics are those with the time and resources to do so.  As someone who stepped away from politics after the birth of my third child, I believe that I am a good example of this.  Having three children under the age of six in a household with two adults working full time jobs, I knew I wouldn’t be able to dedicate the time or energy needed to continue in that role. Now that my children are older and I’m looking to volunteer my time once more, I believe that this experience only adds to my understanding of my community, particularly with regards to the families, both young and old, that are the lifeblood of our town.  As a lifelong Newtown resident of 39 years (with the 40th approaching far too quickly) in the process of raising another generation of Newtowners, I understand what Newtown used to be, what it is now, and what I want to leave it like for my children.

How do you work with those who don’t share your views to find common ground?

I work with those who don’t share my views by doing my best to have a firm understanding of the views and underlying principles of those on the other side of any given issue.  This often works well for me as my current views differ greatly from those I used to hold.  In the 2007 session, I served as a Legislative Intern with the Connecticut House Republicans.  In 2008, I worked on a Republican Congressional campaign against Chris Murphy.  I wrote in Ron Paul’s name in two consecutive Presidential elections.  Until I changed my party affiliation to Democrat in 2014, I was a registered Republican.  This experience helps me to reframe issues to speak with those across the aisle who might disagree; for example, oftentimes things that are environmentally sound are also fiscally responsible.  This ability to see an issue from both sides due to lived experience allows me to find common ground in a way someone whose views have remained static cannot.

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