If elected I would pursue all avenues to try and slow property tax increases, without sacrificing public services. I firmly believe it is possible for a city to be pro-growth without it’s citizens being burdened with the expenses of that growth. For too long Stamford and the state of Connecticut have given large tax credits or abatements to major corporations, and in doing so moved the tax burden to our citizens.

An issue that is intricately linked with property taxes is zoning enforcement. Many residents do not feel that zoning is fairly enforced. In the Cove there were many people concerned with the rise of illegal apartments. These apartments provide much needed affordable housing for the city, but because of the grey area they occupy they do not comply with city safety and zoning regulations. As a board we need to acknowledge this problem and search for solutions that do not remove thousands of working class citizens from their homes, while also making these homes safe and decreasing the street congestion associated with them. Large companies need to be held to the same standards as residents, and we need to increase zoning enforcement especially after incidences such as the demolition of Brewers Yacht Haven Boatyard in 2011. Just because a company is large and has invested into other developments in the city does not mean they are exempt from the rules.

I will make myself as open and transparent as possible for my constituents. I think that every representative has the duty to to engage in a dialogue, and hear out any concerns no matter the scale. I will make contacting me as painless as possible by replying to calls, emails, and through social media. On my website I will release all of my voting history and my reasoning behind the way I voted.

I believe that no public official can make an important decision without the input of as many people as possible. If an issue arises that many people in my area find to be of particular importance, I will hold public meetings to let people voice their concerns and also to explain my way view of the issue. This will help us come to conclusions that accurately represent the will of the people.

I graduated from Purdue University in 2009 and since have been active in the democratic party every election season. While active in the 2016 presidential campaign my passion for politics was ignited. During this election I was made aware of the huge disconnect of the average citizen and the agenda of the government. Since then I have been attending Democratic City Committee meetings as often as possible, and voiced my concern with the openness of the party to new opinions and voices.