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.
What office are you running for and why?
As a practicing landscape architect, I’ve had the opportunity to work in several communities throughout New England where each municipality is uniquely structured to oversee the growth and protect natural resources. I’ve observed that the communities that have most effectively maintained their distinctive charm and beauty are those that have proactively adopted meaningful strategies to implement local ordinances. I’m running for the new Inland Wetlands Board to apply my two decades of professional experience and unique perspective to ensure that Ridgefield’s water resources are managed responsibly while balancing the right of individual landowners to derive value from their property.
What do you hope to accomplish should you be elected on November 5th?
If elected, I will work to ensure that we respect wetlands protections and endorse smart growth strategies. Wetlands protect us. They reduce flooding by storing considerable volumes of water (roughly 39% of runoff) during wet seasons. They also recharge groundwater during dry seasons. Globally, we’ve lost 40% of our wetlands over the last 40 years (Institute for Land Water and Society). In Connecticut, wetlands protections are enforced at the municipal level. This means that if we act locally, we have the power to protect our remaining wetlands. By doing so we will encourage sustainable development and enhance property values.
Tell me about your current involvement in Ridgefield
I’ve been a volunteer at ROAR for three years and I love my weekly dog walking stints there. ROAR provides a safe place for homeless dogs and cats to await adoption and they’ve placed with more than 5000 pets into caring homes. I’m proud to contribute to that statistic.
Name a few of your favorite books
- Landscape Ecology Principles in Landscape Architecture, Richard Forman
- Designing Gardens w/Flora of the American East, Carolyn Summers
Name a person (dead or alive) who you look up to
- My mother for her courage.
- My aunt for her unwavering dedication to her work.
*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.
-
What office are you running for and why
-
What do you hope to accomplish should you be elected on November 5th?
-
Tell me about your current involvement in Ridgefield (include nonprofits)
-
Biggest crisis facing our Town?
-
Name a few of your favorite books
-
Name a person (dead or alive) who you look up to
Learn more here.