Cristina Ross

Election 2023: Cristina Ross Announces Re-Election Bid for Town Council [Q&A]

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New Canaan’s Cristina Ross, an architect for 30-plus years who has served on the Town Council for eight years, this week announced her candidacy for re-election to the legislative body. We put some questions to Ross ahead of the July 25 Republican caucus, where she will seek party backing. (Councilman Michael Mauro, a Republican, also has announced his re-election bid.)

Here’s our exchange. ***

New Canaanite: What is your background professionally and in terms of living and volunteering here in New Canaan? 

Cristina Ross: I am a licensed architect with 30+ years of experience in a wide range of areas including corporate, educational, healthcare, historic restoration, and residential projects. My expertise is in architectural design and project management.

Election 2023

Election 2023: Michael Mauro Announces Re-Election Bid for Town Council [Q&A]

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New Canaan’s Michael Mauro, an attorney for 20-plus years who has served on the Town Council for six years, this week announced his candidacy for re-election to the legislative body. We put some questions to Mauro ahead of the July 25 Republican caucus, where he will seek party backing. Here’s our exchange. ***

New Canaanite: What is your background professionally and in terms of living and volunteering here in New Canaan? Michael Mauro: I have been a practicing attorney for over 20 years.

Government

Election 2023: Keith Richey Announces Candidacy for Town Council [Q&A]

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Keith Richey, a corporate lawyer who has served the town for 20-plus years on the Parking and Parks & Recreation Commissions, on Monday announced his candidacy for the Town Council. We put some questions to Richey ahead of the July 25 Republican caucus, where he will seek party backing. Here’s our exchange. New Canaanite: What is your background professionally and in terms of living and volunteering here in New Canaan? Keith Richey: As a corporate lawyer I specialized in international tax planning for 39 years, starting with Exxon/Mobil out of law school, then Citibank where I became General Tax Counsel for their worldwide Private Bank, left to run the International Tax Planning function for Xerox, then ITT and their spin-off Xylem, retiring in 2018.  My 39 years of professional experience included significant involvement in law, tax, finance, and deal making.

Election 2023

Election 2023: Eric Thunem Announces Candidacy for Town Council [Q&A]

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New Canaan’s Eric Thunem, a longtime resident who grew up in town and has a background in finance, on Tuesday announced his candidacy for the Town Council. We put some questions to Thunem ahead of the July 25 Republican caucus, where he will seek party backing. Here’s our exchange. ***

New Canaanite: What is your background professionally and in terms of living and volunteering here in New Canaan? Eric Thunem: I spent 11 years in the domestic oil and gas industry, and twenty-six years in financial services.

Arnold Karp

Affordable Housing: State Issues ‘Declaratory Ruling’ Against the Town in Moratorium Application

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The state last week issued a ruling that bolsters its decision in October to deny the town’s application for four years of relief from a widely discussed affordable housing statute. The town had pushed back following the Connecticut Department of Housing’s denial of its application for a “moratorium” from the state law known by its statute number, 8-30g. The law allows developers who propose housing projects where at least 30% of units will be rented at affordable rates to get around local Planning & Zoning Commission decisions through an appeal process. 

The town had qualified for a four-year moratorium in 2017, with the denser redevelopment of New Canaan Housing Authority-owned apartments Millport Avenue, and hoped to qualify for another one, in part, through the redevelopment of the Canaan Parish complex at Lakeview Avenue and Route 123, which was partially completed in October 2021. 

Yet that project was delayed by financing difficulties and the COVID-19 pandemic, officials have said. In the months after the 2017-issued moratorium expired, the town received three such applications, at Weed and Elm Streets (120 units), Main Street (20 units) and Hill Street (93 units). Last July—more than one year after the 2017-issued moratorium expired—the town applied for another one.