Greenwich Candidate Profile: Jennie Baird For RTM

GREENWICH, CT — Election day in Greenwich is getting closer and there are plenty of candidates running for various positions in town. To help residents make an informed decision on Nov. 5, Greenwich Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as the big day draws near.

Democratic incumbent Jennie Baird, 51, is running for re-election to Greenwich's Representative Town Meeting (District 5). She serves as the vice chair of the RTM moderator's special committee on technology.

She has worked for 25 years as a digital media executive, including operational and intrapreneurial roles for a number of companies, strategic consulting and experience as a startup founder.

A Riverside resident, Baird and her husband, Chris, have five children, all of whom attended Greenwich public schools. One of them also attended private special education school.

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

Making smart investments in the resources that make Greenwich a great place to live and that draw newcomers. We must also ensure that those investments are well managed.

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

There are lots of great people running for RTM. I am an independent thinker, I understand that many issues we face are not as simplistic as some people would have you believe. My experience in technology and digital communications has been an asset in terms of efforts to modernize RTM digital communications and technology efforts.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

• Civil discourse
• Responsible Stewardship of Greenwich's future
• Improved Communication channels among the RTM and between the RTM and constituents
• Sound management of town resources-from natural resources to financial resources, services, and infrastructure

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

The discipline, knowledge, creativity, and professionalism required for my job prepared me well for the RTM. As the Vice Chair of the RTM's technology committee, I have partnered with the town's head of IT and worked with a great team of RTM members to update the RTM website, suggest improvements to the call to drive digital adoption which would reduce postage and printing costs, and to project the call and live vote tallies during meetings. We are currently working on a solution for email.

The best advice ever shared with me was...

Advice from my great aunt: life is like surfing; it's all about how you ride the waves.

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

Serving on the RTM with my neighbors the past two years has been an honor and a privilege. I've enjoyed getting to know my colleagues and digging into the sometimes complex challenges we face as a town. I hope you will re-elect me!