Decisions we make at the Town Council table have real impact on people’s day-to-day lives. We must carefully balance our desire to implement/maintain robust programs and services with the fiscal reality that virtually all of our revenue comes from our residents in the form of property taxes.

That's why I review the proposed budget line-by-line, ask questions about programs - who they serve, why they are important, and whether we could provide them more efficiently.

We also must look for ways to bring in revenue, to reduce our reliance on property taxes. New revenue has come   - from those who visit West Hartford - in the form of cannabis taxes. We will be installing traffic cameras, which will also bring in revenue from both residents and out-of-town guests.

I also support keeping more revenue right here in West Hartford, instead of sending it to the State. The 1% tax on meals should remain in town, to help offset the costs of being a destination dining district. 

West Hartford is a wonderful town for people of all ages, backgrounds, and circumstances. We are mostly built out and, like a lot of communities in New England, we are out of room to grow. That makes it hard for people to downsize while staying in town, and even harder for new people to buy homes in town.

On Town Council, I have been proud to support a variety of developments that will create new homes for people, including apartments and condominiums, townhomes, and assisted living. These new homes will allow more people of various backgrounds to enjoy our town and all it has to offer. 

Many of the units I have supported are affordable, and I am gratified that most of our neighbors have supported these projects as well. For people with children, the affordable units will provide access to our excellent school system, potentially changing their future - and ours!

For every unit that comes before the Town Council, I ask questions about the capacity of our town infrastructure: can we support these additional residents? Can our schools? 

I give each proposal thoughtful consideration before supporting it. 

We must prioritize safety for all of the users of our roads. This includes pedestrians, bicyclists, and cars (and the occasional bear).

I support a balanced approach that includes improved sidewalks, some segregated bicycle lanes, raised crosswalks, better lighting, and road changes that cause drivers to SLOW DOWN! 

Some of these changes will be difficult to adjust to at first, including the roundabouts going into the neighborhood around King Philip Middle School. As a Massachusetts native, I am a fan of rotaries! Research also shows that rotaries/roundabouts keep traffic flowing and reduce the severity of any accidents that do occur (because they do not include a T-bone).

I also unequivocally support the red light and speed cameras coming to town. This will generate revenue (including from people who are passing through and ignoring our laws) and change behavior.  It's pretty easy to avoid getting a ticket!

We are so lucky to live in a town with so many beautiful outdoor spaces, including  traditional parks, the Trout Brook Trail, Westmoor Park, Spicebush Swamp, and the Wolcott Children's Forest, and some other hidden gems!

On Town Council, I chair the Human & Community Services Committee, which oversees the parks, pools, senior centers, Community Center, libraries, and social services.

I am proud of the many improvements we have made in the past two years, including extending the Trout Brook Trail, adding pollinator habitats throughout town, replacing dying (and non-native) trees with more appropriate trees, and adding dugouts to our softball fields.

We created and support a coordinated approach to substance use prevention in town, secured a new van for our senior centers, and continue to partner with other organizations to provide excellent programs and services for our residents.

Our libraries are world-class, including maker spaces, a podcast studio, and tons and tons of programming! I led the movement to eliminate late fines - which cost our town very little to implement, but which is recommended by the American Library Association as a way to create a welcoming environment for all.