2023 Stamford Election Profile: Karen Camporeale For Board Of Reps.

STAMFORD, CT — Election Day on Nov. 7 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot in Stamford.

Patch reached out to candidates for local office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the city.

Name

Karen Camporeale

How old will you be as of Election Day?

60

What city or town do you live in?

Stamford

What office are you seeking?

Board of Representatives

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here.

District 18

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democrat

Education.

The Lee Strasburg Theater institute

What is your occupation?

CEO of The Urban Apparel Group

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

Yes, I come from a big, Italian family that I feel so lucky to have grown up in. I also have friends from childhood who are as much family to me as any blood relative.

As a single mom, I raised my two daughters, Ariel and Sophia, in Stamford schools. And, all of their friends have become extended family over the decades.

My partner, Sven, and I have been together for almost 10 years. His two kids and their spouses have definitely become family to me, as well. And he and my ex-husband have become good friends.

I love them all very much, but they all understand I have a special spot in my heart is for my little morkie, Tom. We have two other dogs, but Tom is my heart.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

No

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?

In 2021, I ran for this exact same seat on the Board of Representatives, and lost by a mere handful of votes. The gentleman who won actually moved out of District 18 just a couple of months after the election. A person was chosen by that person’s party to temporarily fill the spot. That spot is now open again, and I am running for it.

I consider myself a very active Stamford citizen. I have led blood drives and clothing/food drives, participated in volunteer beach clean-ups, gathered signatures door-to-door for petitions, driven voters to polls, several times spoken at Board of Reps meetings and Zoning Board meetings, and have regularly visited ‘shut-ins,’ who cannot get out due to disabilities.

I believe in this city. I love this city and its people. I love the trees, the animals, the beauty, the sound, the architecture, the restaurants, but the people, most of all. I want to fight for small businesses and the working class, and to reduce taxes. I want to help our civil servants, who give so much. I want to do everything I can to uphold and improve the quality of life for all Stamford residents, while protecting this beautiful land and water that we all call home.

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

Residents of District 18 overwhelmingly say to Stamford government, “You are not listening to us!“ Specifically:

• Development grossly outpaces infrastructure, the adverse effects of which are felt across the city;
• Property taxes continue to rise as the burden for financial incentives to corporate developers gets transferred to private citizens. Thus, affordability as a hot-button issue continues to surge, as many aging, long-time residents and young families are squeezed out;
• As development has increased, ever-worsening congestion is driving traffic deep into neighborhoods never designed to accommodate it. These crowded streets have become unsafe, endangering our children, and even claiming the lives of residents;
• Residents love their city and that it has always felt like a ‘town.’ Stamford government seems to only want a ‘city,’ demonizing D18 residents for enjoying the town feel, and that is wrong. In looking up the definitions of both ‘city’ and ‘town’ and the differences, you start to realize that Stamford feels like both a town and a city. That makes our city unique, and we should protect and cherish that;
• The only priority downtown seems to be how many UN-affordable apartments they can build. Residents know we need to grow, but not at the expense of affordability, our teachers, firefighters, police officers, our quality of life, and certainly not at the expense of our children’s education.

Therefore, if elected, my highest priority will be to take D18 voices, particularly on these issues, to the Board and Mayor, and fight for them!

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

I have a proven track record of fighting for my district. I both know and am actively listening to the people of District 18, because I’ve knocked on, and am still knocking on, thousands of doors in this district over the last 10 years – Democrats, Republicans, and independents.

As a democratically chosen Commissioner on the Stamford Charter Revision Commission, I have spent the last eighteen months studying, discussing, and amending with other Democrats, Republicans and independents Stamford’s constitution. So I will start the job on day one with full understanding of the complexities of Stamford’s laws and operating principles.

I have three decades of experience as a business owner negotiating contracts, and the purchasing of materials and equipment, lowering costs through creative management of my business.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

This question is coaxing me to bash my opponent, which is precisely what I am against in politics. I believe in being elected on my merits, not tearing someone else down. I am for respectful, honest conversation. That is what I bring.

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

• Stamford has become unaffordable for working class people, seniors and those on fixed incomes. I will push to reduce the tax burden on residents and fight for accountability so our tax dollars work for us. This means asking tough questions before money is spent, looking over contracts vigilantly, and advocating for audits to ensure transparency.
• Work for common sense neighborhood planning that considers the effects of development on traffic, the environment, our schools, pedestrians and the community.
• Create a neighborhood coalition to work with the city to fix the serious flooding issues in Springdale and other parts of our district that threaten our homes.
• Inform residents of tax relief programs provided by the City of Stamford and the State of Connecticut.
• Advocate for sound infrastructure planning and serious routine maintenance for our schools so we can solve and prevent another mold crisis.
• Push to finally fix our neighborhood’s neglected roads and sidewalks because we deserve better for our tax dollars.
• Make Stamford a leader in environmental protection by expanding our composting program, supporting our new organic fields program and replacing aging fleet vehicles with electric ones.
• Advocate for safer, more pedestrian friendly streets by lobbying for sidewalks, implementing the city’s traffic calming plan, and working with law enforcement to stop speeders.
• Work to attract job-providing corporations and small businesses that have a track record of positively contributing to their local communities.
• Fight against zoning changes that negatively impact our district and work to protect the natural beauty of Stamford by advocating for sustainable development that takes the environment into account.
• Push for more grant writers, so that the city can use state and federal funding to offset taxes.
• Fight for schools that are properly staffed.
• Modernize our city’s digital infrastructure in order to save money, and to make it easier for residents to access city services.
• Honor the value of our historic places and work to incentivize their repurposing and rehabilitation.
• Provide superior personal constituent services to all of our residents online, over the phone, and in person.

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

Creativity and Flexibility – For nearly three decades, I have run a sizable clothing manufacturing company in Manhattan, employing thousands of people worldwide and thriving amid downturns in the garment industry and devastating fluctuations in the economy. Additionally, my primary competitors have been Fortune 100 companies. Competing at that level demands commitment to creative solutions and often quick pivots, because of the mammoth resources competitors bring to every project and the incessantly shifting goalposts of the fashion industry, itself. I have managed to stay in business as a female owned company against all odds with fewer resources than my competitors. Flexibility and creativity in matters of finance are the very cornerstone of viability.
Similarly, in an ever-changing world, the needs of a community such as Stamford are constantly in flux as it grows and morphs. I will bring the same creativity in order to reduce taxes, protect our natural resources, and improve quality of life.

Leadership – I owned my first company at 27. I’ve led clothing/blood drives, taken in homeless teens, and mentored young women in business, all while raising my now-adult daughters as a single mom.

Integrity – I genuinely love people and value extremely respectful conversation. Integrity is the very foundation of my life.

I have served on The Democratic City Committee for nearly two years.

I served on the Charter Revision Commission for the last year and a half.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My father was born in 1917 and worked most of his life as a humble barber in the Throg’s Neck area of the Bronx. Consistently, over the 31 years I had the profound pleasure to know this great man, he would say, again and again, “Everything in moderation, Karen, especially with people.” When my father passed away, over two decades ago, the church was full to the brim with people who knew and loved him. He understood, lived, and passed on to his four daughters and one son to simply be moderate with people, which is to be kind and respectful to all people, in all things, at all times. Though I cannot claim to be as good as he was, it is, nonetheless, the high bar for which I strive. And, it is precisely this ethos of respect, kindness, and moderation that we need a whole lot more of in government. And I intend to bring it.

Editor's note: This post has been edited to reflect the correct respondent name. Christina Strain was originally listed as the respondent, but the answers are those of Karen Camporeale, a candidate for the Stamford Board of Representatives in District 18.