Fairfield Candidate Profile: Nancy Lefkowitz For Selectman

FAIRFIELD, CT — The 2019 municipal election is heating up in Fairfield and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Fairfield Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will continue covering the races as Election Day draws near.

Nancy Lefkowitz is running for selectman as a Democrat. Lefkowitz is a member of the Representative Town Meeting for District 1 and a senior vice president for talent relations in the media industry.

Are you running for office in Fairfield? Contact Anna Bybee-Schier at anna.bybee-schier@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Fairfield Patch.

Candidate responses appear as they were received and have not been edited by Patch staff.

The single most pressing issue facing our town/district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Since launching my campaign in May, I've knocked on over 3500 doors and have spoken with hundreds of residents:taxes are the most asked about issue.I'm a taxpayer and homeowner and I agree, taxes are a key issue for our community. That said, we must address the extreme political polarization that is weakening our ability to be effective and get things done for the benefit of us all here in Fairfield. In order to achieve successful outcomes on tax related matters - or any other issue - it's essential we are unified in a common purpose, which is the health, safety and well-being of all residents. I will establish more open lines of communication across party affiliations, which also translates to finding better methods of being able to connect with residents across demographics; I will continue to build consensus and be collaborative; I will help establish common goals when problem solving. I will be an active listener; I will lead by example and consider all points of view. I will be open to all ideas - no matter where they come from. To lower taxes, we need to grow our commercial grand list in a thoughtful way. Building out the Fairfield metro area and sections of Black Rock Turnpike are clear examples of where there is room for commercial growth. Another area to consider is doubling taxes on abandoned properties. Perhaps there are redundancies in spending between the town-side and the Board of Education-side and therefore opportunities for savings....but we can't begin to explore these ideas, if we can't come to the table across party lines to have substantive conversations that yield action and results.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I'm a political outsider.I bring fresh perspective, new ideas, innovative approaches to problem solving. I'm not confined by the constraints of doing things 'how they've always been done' or by negative historical and political baggage.I'm a convener, an active listener, a consensus builder. I'm the first Democrat to win a seat on the RTM from D1, which demonstrates my ability to coalesce across party lines and bring people together with kindness and civility. I have 25 years of professional experience in New York City, currently as a Senior Vice President at a major media company. I have more than a decade of experience as an effective activist on gun violence prevention and on women's equality. I'm effective and know how to get things done.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

I am not challenging an incumbent candidate.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

I support our excellent schools and our students; I'm an advocate for seniors, improving the quality of life for seniors and expanding senior tax relief; sustainability and the environment are essential and an integral part of economic growth -- growth that must also be smart and strategic; we must honor our unique history; we must also embrace innovation and the use of technology to propel Fairfield forward; the arts have a proven impact on the health and happiness of a community and I want to promote and support the vibrant arts culture here; celebrating the diverse voices here -- I will continue to advocate for civil and social justice to ensure Fairfield is a place where all are truly welcome.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As Co-Founder of March for Change and a Board Member of CT Against Gun Violence I have effectively lobbied for common sense, rational changes to the gun laws in CT; these laws have proven to significantly lower instances of gun violence in CT.I'm also on the Advisory Council of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. I'm able to work on controversial issues and build consensus, collaborate and find common solutions.As a Founding Member of TIME'S UP New York, I've organized women across industries -- A-list celebrities, domestic workers, money managers, data analysts, farm workers, healthcare providers, etc. (aka multiple personalities, egos, agendas) to advocate successfully for equity, safety and parity in the workplace. As the first Democrat elected to serve on the RTM from D1 I was able to break through the political divide and have, again, worked collaboratively with my Republican colleagues. In my brief tenure on the RTM,, and as Chairperson on the Public Health and Safety committee, I wrote and co-authored an ordinance that passed with unanimous (bi-partisan) support to prohibit discharge of firearms in Fairfield; I also co-sponsored a plastic bag ban. The Attorney General of CT attributes his launching a historic lawsuit against Juul to my tenacity and perseverance as a citizen activist; I was an early advocate in the fight against the harmful effects of vaping and was persistent in my insistence that the Attorney General take on this issue.

I'm a working mother of three and manage my household ...and all that goes into the mostly smooth running of it. Oh, and in middle school, I was voted "friendliest" by my peers.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Be yourself.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My faith and my family are at the heart of every decision I make. Tikkun Olam ("repair of the world"), a core tenant of my jewish upbringing, is a guiding principle of my life's work and choices; this loosely translates to: do as much as you can, for as long as you can, for as many people as you can. Serving on the RTM, running for the Board of Selectman, and then subsequently serving on it, is something I can do to solve problems and help people and have an imprint on the value proposition of who we are as a town and community. My faith is an essential part of who I am, as is being a mom, a wife, a beloved daughter, an admiring sister, a loyal friend, a tireless advocate, a conscientious employee, a productive member or my community and a perennial optimist.