Meet the Candidates: Karen Ogden for Ridgefield Board of Finance

Editor's note: HamletHub believes in democracy and we recently invited all Town of Ridgefield candidates to answer five questions, giving residents an opportunity to learn more about their candidacy, Town involvement, and reasons for seeking office. If you will be on the ballot on November 5, we'd love to hear from you! Please see the information on the bottom of this post regarding this Q&A opportunity. 

Meet Karen Ogden, Board of Finance Candidate 

Which office are you running for and why

I am running for a seat on the Board of Finance. I have been involved with capital markets for most of my career and have a strong practical and educational background to bring to this position. I have experience with budgeting for multi-million-dollar businesses, have a strong understanding of factors that can quickly impact reasonable financial projections and would bring care and detailed consideration to the important role of reviewing and recommending budgets to Ridgefield residents.

What do you hope to accomplish should you be elected on November 5th

First and foremost, I will work to keep resident tax increases as low as possible while addressing proven budgetary needs.  I will continue to scrutinize spending, as the current Board of Finance has done.  It is critical that Ridgefield maintains our “rainy day” fund as a cushion for unexpected expenses or economic turns.  Our current AAA bond rating depends on meeting budgeted revenues and expenses.

Tell me about your current involvement in Ridgefield

Since our family moved to Ridgefield in 2011, I have tended to focus on a few, discrete organizations (I work full time and commute to NYC every day making multiple commitments difficult). I met some great friends while being a “room mother” for our 3^rd grade son when we moved here. I then led a Lions Heart group of teen boys for two years with my oldest son’s classmates. I joined the Board of Woodcock Nature Center for 4 years, stepping off the Board for 8 months to assume the role of Executive Director during a leadership transition. My family and I continue to stay active with Woodcock and both of our sons completed Eagle Scout projects there. At the moment I am focused on being elected to the Board of Finance and would welcome the opportunity to serve Ridgefield residents in that capacity.

Biggest crisis facing Ridgefield?

Fortunately, Ridgefield isn’t facing any “crises”. It is a great town with very engaged residents, great schools and strong town leadership. We are fortunate to have a First Selectman who has strong relationships in Hartford and is very committed to using his influence to bring maximum benefits and attention to our town. We need to remain attentive to demographic and/or economic shifts as both can quickly impact the revenue line. As a Board of Finance member, I will be vigilant to such shifts -- mindful that the budget that is “set” is rarely the budget that is “realized.

Name a person you look up to (either dead or alive)

There are so many friends and family members I can think of who inspire me. All of us can recount stories of neighbors or family who have faced tremendous hardship and found a way to overcome it and continue to be thoughtful, productive and happy people. In a few weeks, I will attend, for the sixth year, a fundraiser in Boston for a research organization dedicated to ALS. A college girlfriend’s husband was diagnosed with that terrible disease about a decade ago and she is very involved with the research organization, despite knowing that any real advancements will be too late for her still-young husband. Their life has evolved into an hour by hour struggle to manage the many, many challenges and heartbreaks that ALS presents. And yet, she is vibrant, optimistic, engaged with family and friends and grateful for all they have been given that is good. I think she is amazing.

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Rules for candidates who wish to participate in our Q&A:

*Please answer 5 of the 6 questions.

*You MUST answer #1

*Please include a photo with your answers

*Please email to  Ridgefield@HamletHub.com 

We will publish your answers in Ridgefield HamletHub, on our social media pages, in our evening e-newsletter and Google News.

1. What office are you running for and why

2. What do you hope to accomplish should you be elected on November 5th?

3. Tell me about your current involvement in Ridgefield (include nonprofits)

4. Biggest crisis facing our Town?

5. Name a few of your favorite books

6. Name a person (dead or alive) who you look up to

 Learn more here.