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 Barbara Manners, Candidate for Re-election Board of Selectmen
What office are you running for and why?
I am running for re-election to the Board of Selectmen because for twenty years I have worked with Rudy Marconi to make Ridgefield an even better place to live than it was twenty years ago, or even last year. We are constantly working to find ways to improve the quality of life for our town's residents and I look forward to continuing that effort for four more years.
What do you hope to accomplish should you be elected on November 5th?
I hope to work with the Board of Selectmen and others to bring newer and different small businesses to Ridgefield to increase our tax base as well as spur more downtown foot traffic. I would like to work on making the Branchville area more attractive to future development and increase the amount of affordable housing in that area of town. In addition, I would like to help ensure that the Playhouse expansion and renovation gets the support it should have from the town and that perhaps, CHIRP finally gets a cover for its stage. I would also like to continue working with Parks and Rec on some more arts programming to be presented under their auspices.
Tell me about your current involvement in Ridgefield
I have been involved in the town of Ridgefield for almost 25 years, serving not only on the Board of Selectmen for 22 years, but serving on the boards of many of our towns non-profit organizations. At the present time, in addition to being a Selectwoman, I also serve on the Advisory Board of the Women's Center of Greater Danbury, I produce CHIRP, the 25+ free concerts presented in town each summer, I produce a series called the Acoustic Celebration of national touring singer/songwriters who perform periodic Sunday afternoons throughout the fall and spring in the North Hall of St. Stevens Church. I also annually fund-raise and administer The Holiday Trust Fund, which was founded in 1999 to help preserve many of Ridgefield's small town holiday traditions such as The Halloween Walk, the Tree lighting and the Holiday Stroll.
Biggest crisis facing our Town?
I don't believe there is a crisis facing our town. Yes, there are issues that concern me, the perception of insufficient parking, the congestion through Main Street at certain time of the day, the increasing need of some in our town to make use of our social services, and the growing divisiveness I sense in our community these days that mirrors the national trend. But all of these are challenges that the Board is currently and constantly working to resolve, often with the assistance of business groups, private individuals, other town boards and commissions and our clergy association. Under Rudy's leadership we have all worked together and I believe that will continue.
Name a few of your favorite books
At my age, I have a long lifetime of favorite books too numerous to name, until recently most were fiction. But recently, some of my favorite or most important reading has included Educated by Tara Westover, Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine Albright, My Own Words, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Shortest Way Home, by Pete Buttigieg, How Democracies Die, by Steve Levitsky & Daniel Ziblatt and A Higher Loyalty by James Comey.
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.
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What office are you running for and why
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What do you hope to accomplish should you be elected on November 5th?
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Tell me about your current involvement in Ridgefield (include nonprofits)
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Biggest crisis facing our Town?
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Name a few of your favorite books
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Name a person (dead or alive) who you look up to
Learn more here.
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Submitted by Ridgefield, CT
