A resident since 1998, I’ve long been an advocate for non-partisan, professional city government and giving more voice to residents, regardless of party affiliation and ahead of special interests. After narrowly losing the 2019 mayoral race to Harry Rilling, I spear headed the return of the Independent Party in Norwalk, running independent candidates, who prefer not to be labeled and cross endorsing moderate candidates from both major parties.
A 25-year veteran of the corporate world, my expertise is financial and operational. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communications and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration. I spent 20 years with AT&T, selling infrastructure equipment to telecom companies in the US, Europe and Asia and five more years as a management consultant. As a three-time cancer survivor and mother of two, I shifted gears in 2007 and became civically involved in all things Norwalk; starting with education, including teaching elementary and middle school students how to write and debate. Following years of PTA fundraising, I became involved in land use and zoning issues, when I put two and two together, realizing in Connecticut, and specifically Norwalk, that ~90% of our school funding is derived from local property taxes. Norwalk’s perpetual budget issues are years in the making and a culmination of incompatible zoning and education policies. I want to help fix that.
Norwalk Civic Boards and Engagements (partial)
Exec Committee, Coalition of Norwalk Neighborhood Associations (CNNA): Neighborhood P&Z advocacy (2014-2019)
Exec Board, League of Women Voters: Voter programs for local electorate. (2010- 2019)
Norwalk First: Political Action Committee (PAC) Won NO ballot initiative on municipal charter revision. (2016)
Member Norwalk Public Schools District Data Mgmt. Team: State mandated organization focused on district operations, student assessments and closing the achievement gap. (2009-2015)
Founder R.Ed Apples of Norwalk: Education advocacy group focused on local reforms. (2009-2015)
Roton PTA: President. (2007-09)
Board Member, Save Farm Creek: Non-profit board focused on coastal wetlands protection. (2015-2019)
Mayoral Candidate: Independent Candidate receiving 45% of the vote. (2019)
Founder & Administrator of Save Norwalk’s Neighborhoods: Facebook page dedicated to keeping the community informed and sharing data on zoning, economic data and other quality of life issues. (2023 – present)
Town Chair, Norwalk Independent Party: Reestablished ballot line and later a town committee committed to running candidates on a local, non-partisan basis, to combat the two major party’s national agenda of polarization and extremism (2021- present)