Peter Baird for Planning and Zoning Commission

My family and I have lived in Haddam for 15 years, and we have raised two children in town, one of whom still attends HK schools. For the last ten years, I have worked as a social and healthy policy researcher for a company called MDRC, evaluating ways to improve employment programs for veterans and people with disabilities and helping ensure better and more fair collections in our child support systems.  I previously worked for the the State of Vermont, and was a consultant for a US Senator on disability and health reform. I love Haddam, live in Higganum village, and you’ll often see me hiking or bicycling in town. I am a regular customer in all the businesses in HIgganum, near my home, and am particularly active in maintaining and enjoying the lovely trails and rural nature of our town.
I previously have served for 6 years on the town’s Planning and Zoning Committee, which made me very familiar with our zoning regulations and the challenges we face in encouraging and supporting growth while retaining the rural atmosphere of Haddam.
The town must always look at ways to balance growth, increase its tax base and protect what makes Haddam a special place to live. As a member of the Planning and Zoning, I would work hard in fairly administering town zoning rules and work to increase the importance of good town planning, including engaging in long overdue reviews of our planning regulations. Thanks for your support in keeping Haddam a great place to live!