Patch Candidate Profile: Tara Cook-Littman, RTM District 2

FAIRFIELD, CT — Election Day is approaching fast, and a number of key positions in Fairfield will be on the ballot, including Board of Selectman, Board of Education, Board of Finance, RTM and others.

To help readers make an informed decision on Nov. 7, Fairfield Patch has reached out to local candidates to share their views on various topics of importance in town.

Patch will post these candidate profiles over the next few weeks, so check back often to see the latest.

Name

Tara Cook-Littman

How old will you be as of Election Day?

48

What city or town do you live in?

Fairfield, CT

What office are you seeking?

RTM

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here.

District 2

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democrat

Education.

Brandeis University BA and Cardozo Law School JD

What is your occupation?

Attorney (20 years) Environmental Advocate (10 years)

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

Three children ages 20, 18 and 16. I’ve been married to my husband, Owen, for 23 years.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Fairfield Board of Finance 2014-2015

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

For the past decade I’ve used my advocacy skills as an attorney to effect policy change, both at the state and federal level. I love my community of Fairfield but see areas of concern, specifically with schools, safety, fiscal issues and sustainability, where I believe I can now employ my advocacy skills here locally to create necessary change.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is \_\_\_, and this is what I intend to do about it.

This is an unfair and overly broad question. If I’ve learned anything from my years as an advocate, it is that individuals have varying levels of concern on different issues and I’d never lump them all into one group that agrees on the “single most pressing issue” nor would I pick one issue over others. If you are a parent with young children then quality of schools may be your number one issue. However, if you are a senior living on a fixed income, controlling town spending may be your number one issue. And if you walk on the streets of Greenfield Hill, then street safety may be your number one issue. It is possible to prioritize more than one issue. The job of an elected representative is to ensure you understand and advocate on behalf of all your constituents and their diverse priorities.

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

At the time of filling out this survey our opponents have not been announced.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

I believe the campaign is the best time to learn about the issues of most concern to future constituents. I am still speaking to neighbors and friends about issues they care about, but as of now it is clear folks are very concerned about our safety on the streets and in our homes, there is too much uncertainty about school redistricting and we must continue to ensure that Fairfield taxes our residents fairly and spends wisely.

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

As a Board of Finance member I learned about the town budget first hand. Voting on the budget is a critical role for RTM members. In addition, as a result of my advocacy work, I’ve passed laws and learned what it takes to create consensus around an issue and move things forward, ultimately resulting in policy change.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

There is nothing more important in this world than the people you love.