Why I’m running for mayor of Stamford
For the past year, my phone has been ringing nonstop from constituents who have lost their jobs, been sick with COVID-19, struggled to pay their bills and mortgage, and lost loved ones. The heartbreak our community has experienced is unimaginable. As our city faces countless hardships amidst an unprecedented pandemic, I am more committed than ever to working tirelessly at the local level to help people in need and help our city recover from this devastating crisis. That’s why I am honored to be running to be your mayor.
We need an energetic, unifying, and visionary leader who will listen to and uplift all voices to help take our city to the next level. If we can come together like we have during this crisis with a spirit of collaboration and determination, we can tackle the challenges we face and come out of this pandemic stronger than ever.
My passion for public service is rooted in the emotions I felt during another crisis, when as a 15-year-old, I was sitting in history class and heard that a plane had struck the World Trade Center. Like so many others, I will never forget the devastation and horror of that day. But amidst the destruction and uncertainty, the heroism of our brave first-responders and devoted volunteers at Ground Zero inspired our nation to put country over party and others before ourselves.
This led me to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where I worked for four years to protect cities from a range of threats, including the H1N1 virus, natural disasters, and terrorism, and then back home to the Connecticut legislature. It has been an honor to serve as a state representative for the past seven years and to advocate for the people of Stamford. Working with the Stamford delegation and Stamford residents, community, non-profit, and business leaders, I have helped to secure more state funding for Stamford schools, supported small business growth and jobs, helped working families by passing paid family medical leave and worked to make health care more affordable, protect our environment, improve our transportation infrastructure, reduce gun violence, and make our state more affordable.
Stamford is at a critical turning point. The challenges we faced prior to the pandemic have now been compounded by the overwhelming
We need an energetic, unifying, and visionary leader who will listen to and uplift all voices to help take our city to the next level.
strain the virus has taken on our community, and racial and economic disparities have been exacerbated. Now more than ever, we need new leadership that brings diverse and talented people together to advance innovative ideas to fix the challenges facing our city.
Stamford can be a city where all residents have the opportunity to pursue their dreams and thrive. A city with ample job opportunities, a flourishing entrepreneurial ecosystem, a 21st century train station, beautiful parks and green spaces, better roads, and schools with the infrastructure and resources that our students and teachers deserve. Stamford can be a leading city tackling climate change, housing and food insecurity, and economic inequities; a city that is more connected, affordable, inclusive and sustainable. Stamford can be a city with a more responsive and transparent local government that works better for people, so that you do not have to wonder when that pothole is getting fixed or when your leaves will be picked up. I am continuously inspired by the generosity, ingenuity, and dedication of our community and I am optimistic that together, we can write a new chapter for our city.