Nicole Dykstra Running For Oxford Board Of Assessment Appeals

OXFORD, CT —Election Day is approaching fast, and a number of key positions in Oxford will be on the ballot.

To help readers make an informed decision on Nov. 2, 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 couple of weeks, so check back often to see the latest.

Democrat Nicole Dykstra, 36, is running for Oxford Board of Assessment Appeals in Oxford.

Occupation: Graduate Assistant, Rutgers University

Family: My husband's name is Joshua and our son's name is Austin. He is in fourth grade at Oxford Center School.

Family in government: My husband is an Alternate Planning and Zoning Commissioner and he previously served as a member of the Massachusetts Army National Guard.

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

I don't know if this is the single most pressing issue, but one I hope to address if elected is the communication between elected officials and residents. I recognize this can be a challenging thing to do alongside all of the other responsibilities that come with elected office, and I believe that everyone is doing their best, and but I will be an extra set of hands to built upon the communication efforts that currently exist.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

There is no doubt that the others running for this position also care about Oxford and about the board, and I thank them for their willingness to serve our town. I think the biggest difference between myself and the others is that I've never served on this board before, and so I believe I will bring a fresh perspective and new energy to the position, especially as it pertains to proactive communication with residents through social media and other means. I would also like to help update and expand the information and resources available to residents on the town website, and so finding and submitting forms are easier.

Accomplishments:

I've managed websites and social media pages for both military and civic organizations. My position in the military frequently requires me to read and apply regulations fairly and and I am accustomed to working with groups toward a common goal.

Other issues:

In addition to improving and expanding upon the ways the Board of Assessment Appeals communicates with residents, I would hope to also make it easier for folks to find information on the town's website. This isn't a criticism of the current work that has gone into it, and rather a promise to help update it and to make it easier to navigate.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

My husband and I chose Oxford as the place where we would raise our family. I deeply care about the community and look forward to finding more opportunities to work with others in a positive way to maintain - and improve! - our neighbors' quality of life here.