Greenwich Candidate Profile: Joan Thakor 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.

Incumbent Joan Thakor is running for re-election to Greenwich's Representative Town Meeting (District 5). She has served on the RTM for the past two years.

She previously worked as a human resources executive and a labor and employment lawyer. Recently, she started her own company that offers college counseling services to high school students and their families.

She continues to volunteer regularly at her children's high school and church, as well as her alma mater. She also sits on the board of the Greenwich Alliance for Education.

Thankor has lived in Riverside since 1999, where she raised four children.

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

I will continue to seek a balance between fiscal responsibility and necessary infrastructure investments to make Greenwich the preeminent place to live for families. Matters most important to me are education, physical infrastructure and protecting and enhancing our natural environment.

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

I currently have children attending our public schools--most of my peers do not. You can trust that I care deeply about the quality of education our children receive, as well as the quality and condition of the physical school buildings and related facilities. I clearly see the need to strike a balance between making these and other investments in our future while maintaining our low tax rates, which also makes Greenwich attractive.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

I am passionate about maintaining the qualities that make Greenwich a terrific place to live, but I also believe we need to be open to new ideas and to adapt to changing conditions in order to flourish.

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

I grew up in rural America and have lived in three international cities as well as New York City before moving to Riverside. I bring a unique perspective to what makes Greenwich so special. I have taken an active role on the RTM's Appointments Committee, where I help recruit and interview candidates for the Town's various boards and commissions, and on its subcommittee on process. I've raised four kids here, and have experience with both the public and private school systems.

The best advice ever shared with me was...

Don't worry about what others are doing. Do what you think makes sense, and what is right.

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

I grew up the middle of nine children. I learned to work well with others, to share, and to make sure I was heard when it mattered. I put myself through college and law school, and have lived all over the world before putting down roots in Greenwich.