Ridgefield Candidate Profile: Karen Ogden For Board of Finance

RIDGEFIELD, CT — The 2019 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.

Karen Ogden, 55, is running for Board of Finance as a Democrat. She received a BS in Finance from Boston College and her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She is currently managing director at Guggenheim Securities.

Ogden's husband Paul is a realtor with Coldwell Banker, and she has one son at Boston College and another at Ridgefield High School.

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

First and foremost, I will work to keep resident tax increases as low as possible while addressing critical budgetary needs, like our public schools. Fortunately, Ridgefield is currently in great fiscal shape with a AAA bond rating and a solid "rainy day" fund. Both are especially critical in times of any uncertainty. As a fiscally strong town in a fiscally challenged state, we cannot be confident about continued financial support from the state. Our outstanding schools are our greatest and most valuable asset – a critical factor attracting and keeping residents in our town. We need to remain attentive to demographic and/or economic shifts as both can quickly impact the revenue line. As a Board of Finance member, I will be vigilant about such shifts — mindful that the budget that is "set" is rarely the budget that is "realized."

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

Both Dave Ulmer, my running mate, and I have decades of experience in budgeting and financial management along with considerable volunteer engagement in our town.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

Homeowners know that we must maintain and improve our homes to ensure their integrity and value. We know that spending on things such as driveway paving or repairing a septic field feel more like a chore than a satisfying “improvement.” Like homeowners, Ridgefield needs to continue to maintain and improve its infrastructure, such as our schools, sewage treatment plant, and other shared town facilities. The work must be identified and budgeted for, as letting facilities fall into disrepair ultimately costs more while reducing our quality of life. The Board of Finance makes the final decision on capital projects to be sent to the voters and I will prioritize infrastructure as much as possible.

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

I have been involved with capital markets for most of my career and have a strong practical and educational background to bring to this position. I have experience with budgeting for multi-million-dollar businesses, and a deep understanding of factors that can quickly impact reasonable financial projections. I will bring care and a detailed consideration to the important role of reviewing and recommending budgets to Ridgefield residents.

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

My husband and I have raised our two sons in this wonderful town. I will approach my position on the BOF with the determination to keep the best aspects of our town strong, while carefully stewarding taxpayer dollars.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

I particularly like – "trust, but verify." It has two prongs of insight. Don't believe everything you want to believe, even if presented in a compelling way. And do your own due diligence.