Peggy Baiad

Democrat, District 2

Personal Info: Age 59. 4 Budd Drive. Former Spanish teacher. Real estate agent in Newtown for 17 years. Community volunteer. Legislative Council member, four years. Ordinance Committee. Chairman, Public Safety Committee. Member, St Rose parish. Lector coordinator, St Rose. St Rose Women’s Club.

What personal qualities do you have that you believe will benefit the Legislative Council? — At this point, I would stress my experience, since I have served two terms on the council and have the background on the issues we will be discussing in the months to come. I am well organized, study the issues thoroughly, and try to make an informed decision that will be in the best interest of the people of Newtown.

What will be the council’s biggest challenge in the next two years? — I feel the biggest challenge will be the appropriate development of Fairfield Hills. We will also have to implement the charter changes if they pass, or appoint another commission if they do not.

Do you favor economic development at Fairfield Hills, or should the campus be used solely for municipal purposes?— I favor some economic development at Fairfield Hills. Most of the land will be kept as open space, and we certainly need municipal offices; however, economic development is sorely needed to broaden our tax base, and if it is limited and done properly, it will be an asset to the Fairfield Hills campus and to the town.

The proposed changes to the charter may fail on November 6 because of confusion and concern over the need to implement the changes in just 30 days because of a clerical error. Would you be willing to reappoint a charter revision commission next year to bring these changes before the public again a year from now so that they may be considered solely on their merits? A great deal of time and effort by the commission went into these revisions, and I believe that they are sound. I would certainly work with the council in appointing another commission if the changes are defeated. It would be best to have the same commission, but everyone might not be able to serve. The addition of a couple of new members would change the dynamics of the group, and it is likely that these particular changes would not come before the public again. We would have to go through the whole charter revision process all over again, when the council’s time might be better spent on other important issues.