My name is Tara Ochman, and I am the 2021 Democratic nominee for First Selectman in Darien.
I’m running because I believe that Darien needs a new kind of forward-thinking leadership.
For too long the talents and experience of residents have been undervalued. For too long our town government has simply managed the status quo, rather than built for the future. I think we can do better. I’m ready to do the hard work necessary to ensure that Darien is a competitive and desirable 21st century town, a place where the next generation of young families choose to live and raise their children.
In 2017, I ran for the Darien Board of Education because I believe that our strong public schools are the most important cornerstone to our community. I worked hard and did my best to build bridges across the political aisle—an instinct that paid dividends when I was voted in as Chair by the majority Republican Board in 2018. I was proud to be elected as chair for each of the next three years, leading the Board of Education through three of its lowest budget cycles in history, easing the burden on taxpayers while maintaining the nationally renowned quality of Darien’s public schools.
Now, I want to take that same bipartisan spirit to Town Hall and address our town’s most pressing challenges.