2023 Greenwich Election Profile: Nisha Arora For BET

GREENWICH, CT — Election Day on Nov. 7 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot in Greenwich.

Patch reached out to candidates for local office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the town.

Name

Nisha Arora

How old will you be as of Election Day?

45

What city or town do you live in?

Greenwich

What office are you seeking?

Board of Estimate and Taxation

Please give us your party affiliation.

Republican

Education.

B.S. Chemical Engineering & Mathematics, Rutgers University. MBA, Yale University.

What is your occupation?

BET Member, 2021-present. Prior to BET, COO for investment firms.

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

Mom of 3 teenagers. Married to Harry Arora, who served as a Greenwich state representative for two terms.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My husband, Harry Arora, represented Greenwich in the state assembly until Dec 2022.

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

Yes, I am a current member of the BET, elected November 2021.

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?

I am an incumbent member of the BET and running for re-election to serve a second term. I serve on the BET Budget Committee and have done extensive analysis and modeling of our Town’s department budgets. I am proud to say that last year, the BET, under Republican leadership, worked collaboratively with our town departments to pass a historic budget – roughly $482 million operating and $112 million in capital while managing to contain our property tax rate increase to 1%. Approximately 80% of the $112 million capital allocation was appropriated to our public schools, many due for renovations or rebuilds.

Before taking on this volunteer role on the BET, I spent 20 years of my professional career working in the private sector, managing the operations of financial firms. I want to bring a private sector focus on efficiency and service to our town government. The Republican BET members have one objective - to ensure our town funds the highest level of services while keeping taxes affordable. The only way to do this is to focus on efficiencies, use process improvement, and leverage technology. I have done this before in a private setting. Town governance is best when we build consensus around data-driven policy and are transparent about our decision-making. We must set aside partisan differences and work together to benefit our town residents and their needs. My commitment is to reduce contention in our politics and bring people together around sound policy.

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

Our commitment is to fund the best schools, public safety, infrastructure, parks and town services AND keep our taxes affordable. This commitment has two parts, and we plan to deliver on both. The Federal spend-spend-spend policy is submerging the long-standing wisdom of our Town, and the idea of providing a high level of services with affordable taxes is being challenged. Towns around us have high taxes – in many cases, double that of ours, and those high taxes take a toll on economic diversity.

Our colleagues across the aisle are arguing that the BET’s role is to provide financing options for projects and provide NO diligence around costs. That is neither our charter nor our history. As financial stewards, the BET must be diligent, ask questions, demand transparency, and invest responsibly. We must develop robust budgets and adhere to them. Our residents want excellent town services, to modernize our schools and infrastructure, AND to keep our taxes affordable. That is our platform; that is our commitment.

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

In Greenwich, fiscal discipline is under attack by partisan Democrats, not unlike what we observed at the federal level, where the Biden administration unleashed a massive amount of spending and debt. In Greenwich, despite passing the largest capital budget ($112 million) in the Town’s history, Democrats are arguing this is not enough. Democrats want to spend more, and Democrat BET members are running on a platform to take on long-term debt, raise taxes, and spend without constraints.

Democrat policies could increase taxes by up to 50% over the next few years. The core of our Town’s good financial governance – spending and investing responsibly, providing excellent town services yet keeping taxes affordable- has to be defended. It is important. And the Republican BET will defend it.

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

Encourage increased adoption of technology to improve town services, promote public-private partnerships to solve some difficult problems like downtown parking, provide input into energy, environmental, and conservation strategies for the town. Most importantly, address issues by looking at all angles and everyone’s interest, and not politicize them.

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

Balanced a successful 20-year career in finance while raising a family and giving back to my community. I have served on several nonprofit boards, including the YWCA Greenwich (Audit Chair, 2016-2021), Avon, and TFI, and co-founded the India Cultural Center (ICC) in Greenwich in 2012. Today, ICC is one of the leading South Asian nonprofits in Westchester/Fairfield counties.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My dad always said 'honesty is the best policy.' In the public sector, this couldn't be more true - advocating for truth and transparency is necessary to make good decisions for the benefit of our community.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I came to this country as a six-year-old from India, and have lived the classic immigrant American story. My parents, both highly educated, came to this country to provide their children with the best education. For me, those were the public schools in Delaware, public universities in New Jersey, and nonprofits that supported my family along the way. I am forever indebted to my parents and the community that gave me the opportunity to succeed. My experience has framed my personal philosophy in raising a family, serving my community, and making an impact. I love our town and am honored to have the opportunity to serve.