Stamford Election 2021: Ashley Ley Running For Board Of Reps.

STAMFORD, CT — Election Day on Nov. 2 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.

Democrat Ashley Ley, 41, is running for Board of Representatives District 20 in Stamford.

Occupation: Urban Planner

Family:Ben Compton (husband), Tyler Compton (son age 9), Evelyn Compton (daughter age 5), and dog Tanner (11 yr old rescue dog).

Experience: City of Stamford Environmental Protection Board

Family in government: Not currently. My great grandfather Anthony (Tony) Marrucco served on Stamford's Housing Authority in the 1960s and 70s, and on the Parks and Recreation Commission in the 1980s.

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

The most pressing issue facing the 20th District is the protection and enhancement of quality of life infrastructure and services. Specifically, infrastructure improvements such as paving, sidewalks, safe routes to school, healthy school buildings, and enhancement of our parks and public spaces. The 20th District is home to several of the City’s premiere recreational spaces — the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, Bartlett Arboretum, and Chestnut Hill Park.

However, there are also many roads, sidewalks, parks, and public spaces in disrepair. Maintaining North Stamford’s infrastructure and valuable public spaces and institutions that attract new residents, educate our children, and support our local economy is critical to the future of the 20th District.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

As an urban planner that works with a diverse range of urban, suburban, and rural communities, I am skilled at navigating broad ranges of opinion and finding consensus. I am uniquely qualified to work with the City and community members on land use, zoning, land conservation, and planning for public spaces in District 20. I am experienced in facilitating public participation and engagement sessions, and plan to use those skills to hold quarterly “town hall” style meetings to hear constituent concerns, build consensus, and and work towards common goals. I will also maintain a social media presence to relay information in a timely manner.

Accomplishments:

I have served as a volunteer member of the City of Stamford Environmental Protection Board (EPB) since 2015. As an EPB member I have shown my dedication to the City and the preservation of natural resources that are important to the 20th District.

In addition, I am active in regional land use and planning organizations, and regularly lead seminars and training sessions. In a professional capacity I have worked on several large transportation infrastructure projects, facilitated Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs, and drafted local ordinances. I would bring my professional and volunteer experience in municipal government and capital projects to the Board of Representatives as it makes critical legislative, planning, and budgeting decisions.

Other issues:

The overarching theme that defines my platform is to address the critical issues that make Stamford a great place to live, work, and explore. North Stamford strikes that unique balance of offering quiet suburban neighborhoods surrounded by natural resources with the diversity and cultural amenities of a small city. For these reasons, North Stamford is attracting new residents looking for more space but with convenient access to downtown restaurants, jobs, and recreational activities. It is a slice of the country within Connecticut's second largest city.

As a member of the Board of Representatives I would protect and promote the features and amenities that drew residents to North Stamford, address concerns of residents looking to remain in the community, and to welcome new families to the neighborhood. The long-term growth and financial stability of the City is also an important component on my platform. I would work closely with the City and other boards to facilitate fiscally responsible capital improvement planning and long-term maintenance strategies for our school and municipal buildings, parks, sidewalks, and and roads.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I am an advocate for government accountability, efficiency, and transparency. I would work with the City to improve access to information, and would support efforts to further improve the City’s website, broad-band capabilities, and online services (e.g. permitting, meeting notification, and major project updates). I would also support environmental and sustainability initiatives to reduce waste, improve energy efficiency, utilize renewable energy sources, and include resiliency measures in our capital projects. I am open to discussing and further investigating alternative funding sources and public private partnerships to facilitate the City’s goals and objectives.