Candidate Profile: Alexander Lycoyannis, Ridgefield ZBA

RIDGEFIELD, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Ridgefield and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Ridgefield Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Alexander Lycoyannis, 47, is running for re-election to the Town of Ridgefield Zoning Board of Appeals, on the Republican ticket.

Education.

JD, Boston University School of Law; BA, Binghamton University

What is your occupation?

Attorney - 22 years of experience

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

Wife (Kimberly); two sons, ages 16 and 14

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

Town of Ridgefield Zoning Board of Appeals - Jan. 2023-present

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 running for the ZBA because the position aligns with my professional experience and interests. As a real estate attorney, one of my main duties involves advising clients on how to comply with laws, rules and regulations that apply to their properties. Those duties dovetail quite well with my duties on the ZBA, which involve, among other things, hearing applications from town property owners on whether our zoning regulations should be varied as applied to the owner’s particular circumstances. I view my role – and that of the ZBA as a whole -- not as a means of denying or being an obstacle to what owners wish to do with their properties, but to guide them to uses that will comply with the zoning regulations, thereby respecting the rule of law and preserving our town's character.

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

The ZBA’s main role is to ensure that uses of real property within the town comply with our zoning regulations – and, if not, that the proposed use is one for which the ZBA can grant a variance. As a town board, the ZBA needs to ensure that it applies the zoning regulations in a fair, impartial and consistent manner, such that town residents can conform their proposed property uses accordingly.

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

I don't perceive many major differences. Although we belong to different political parties on paper, we all work very well together and, collectively, seek to serve our town to the best of our abilities.

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

As a member of the ZBA, I aim to do my part to:

(1) Ensure that our local government is responsive to the needs and wishes of town residents; and
(2) In this era of hyper-political polarization, show that people of good will can come together in good faith – no matter their political party or views on national issues – to work for the common good of all town residents.

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

I have over two decades of experience as a real estate litigation attorney handling issues and advising clients in matters that are in many ways similar to those which come before the ZBA.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My mother always told me that if I ever face a choice between eating and paying my bills...pay my bills. In other words: above all else, honor your obligations, be a responsible person, and keep your word.

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

In addition to (hopefully) continuing to serve on the ZBA, I have volunteered for Ridgefield Youth Lacrosse and am currently on the Board of the Ridgefield High School Lacrosse Booster Club.