Policies

I’m running for Mayor because I truly believe in Hamden’s potential. This is my hometown, it’s where my family has lived for generations, and I want to see it thrive again. I’m not interested in politics for the sake of politics. I’m running to make government work for the people who live here.

My focus is simple: fix the finances, make Hamden safer, support our local businesses, and bring transparency back to Town Hall. I’ll always be honest with residents, even when the truth is difficult, because that’s how you build real trust. What you see is what you get, and that is represented by my vision for Hamden’s future.

Here are the key highlights of my platform:

Financial Stability and Oversight

Utilize a forensic financial audit separate from the annual audit to uncover waste, mismanagement, and potential fraud.
Use findings from the forensic audit to reallocate wasteful spending and make smarter budget decisions without cutting essential services.
Keep the budget flat until we ensure millions in taxpayer money is being used efficiently.
Hire a professional Finance Director with a proven track record.
Properly staff the Finance Department with qualified professionals.
Create a new Independent Financial Review Group to oversee all fiscal operations, community engagement during budgeting, and ensure timely audits in the future.
Implement a temporary hiring freeze across the rest of the town until the forensic and yearly audits are completed.
Develop a 10-year liability reduction plan to manage pensions and debt.
Work towards fully funding and professionally managing pension liabilities to stabilize long-term obligations.
Negotiate sustainable benefit structures for new hires to lower costs, including non-contractual benefits.

Transparency, Accountability, and Governance

Launch a Public Transparency Portal that centralizes all major budget and financial documents, includes searchable archives, and provides both technical and plain-language fiscal summaries.
Publish fully electronic budgets and financial statements both pre- and post- approval for resident review.
Integrate Legislative Council meeting minutes and supporting documents into the Public Transparency Portal.
Create a new Community Representative Program allowing residents to actively participate in the budgeting and hiring processes.
Hold regularly-scheduled Public Engagement Forums on budget and hiring issues where residents will not be limited to 3-minute comments.
Implement a Mayor’s Open-Door policy with weekly public hours for residents’ ease of access.
Ensure adequate live-streams of all major meetings and budget discussions for public access.
Provide Quarterly Fiscal Updates.
Provide an annual “State of Hamden” report.

Public Safety and Crime Prevention

Implement a Hamden Police Housing Incentive Program for officers purchasing homes in Hamden, including:
- Low-interest loan partnerships (subsidized by the state).
- Down-payment assistance (subsidized by the state).
- Town-based one-time closing cost grants with an automatic yearly cost cap.
Establish an Officer Wellness & Retention Fund to cover continuing education, counseling, and non-contractual retention bonuses tied to years of service.
Implement a Community First Policing Plan featuring:
- Neighborhood-based policing units.
- Increased School Resource Officers.
- Integration of restorative justice programs.
Advertise these offerings to expand recruitment and retention efforts to achieve a fully staffed police force.
*All programs listed will account for less than <0.1% of town revenue

Firefighter and EMS Support

Adopt Connecticut General Statute §12-81w: Provide property tax abatements (up to $2,000 annually) for volunteer firefighters, tied to performance standards.
Adopt Connecticut General Statute §7-148: Create a modest, points-based stipend program (up to ~$600 annually) for volunteers to reimburse gear/training expenses.
Adopt Connecticut General Statute §7-464: Allow volunteers to buy into the town’s group health insurance plan at their own expense.
Promote awareness of state tuition waivers, scholarships, and tax deductions for volunteers and their families.
Cap total program costs and phase implementation to maintain fiscal responsibility.
*All programs listed will account for less than <0.1% of town revenue

Economic Development and Business Growth

Hire an Economic Development Director with proven municipal development experience.
Use forensic audit findings to stabilize Hamden’s finances, improve credibility, and make Hamden more attractive to business owners and entrepreneurs.
Develop a cohesive strategy to address differing development needs across the town.
Implement tax incentives and grant programs for new and expanding businesses.
Create coordinated community development projects by using the new Community Representative Program to discuss the developments residents want while also considering what’s best for the local economy.
Expand economic enterprise zones and streamline permitting processes to make business growth faster and less bureaucratic.
Develop blighted areas by using existing developments to revitalize areas that used to flourish.

At the end of the day, I’m just someone who cares deeply about this community and wants to help move it forward. Together, we can put Hamden back on solid ground and restore the pride that every resident deserves to feel in their town.