We-Ha.com is offering our readers the opportunity to meet the candidates running in the Nov. 4, 2025 municipal election. 

Compiled by Ronni Newton

We-Ha.com is offering our readers the opportunity to “Meet the Candidate” – designed to help them get to know the candidates running for office in the 2025 municipal election.

Identical questionnaires have been sent to all candidates, and each profile received has been submitted directly to We-Ha.com by the candidate or the candidate’s campaign management. The responses have not been edited but have been formatted to match our publication style. Questions left blank have been noted.

As profiles are received, they will be published on We-Ha.com under the “Government” tab. We-Ha.com is not making endorsements of any political candidates but we are publishing this information in order to assist voters in being informed and prepared when they go to the polls on Nov. 4.

If you are a candidate and wish to submit a profile, please return it by email to Ronni Newton at [email protected] as soon as possible.

TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATE

Name: Lisa Lazarus

Party affiliation: Democrat

Family information: I am the youngest of twelve children – six brothers and five sisters – and the proud aunt to sixteen nieces and nephews, and grand-aunt to four. I live with my partner, John Blair, who has two adult children.

Primary occupation: I serve as Associate Director of Compliance and Recruitment in the HR Department at YWCA Hartford Region.

Previous political experience: I was a member of Carol Andreson Blanks’ campaign team, served as co-chair of the municipal coordinated campaign in 2023, and served on the West Hartford Board of Assessment Appeals and as a Council Zoning Alternate.

Other relevant experience that may be related to your desire to serve the community, and further qualifies you for the office you are seeking: My career has spanned education, small business, real estate, non-profit leadership, compliance, operations, and even within the military. From teaching children to leading teams, I’ve learned how to see the “big picture,” develop policies and budgets, and bring systems together for positive, measurable outcomes. I’m also a trauma-informed Yoga Teacher and Transpersonal Coach, which has deepened my empathy, communication, and conflict-resolution skills. These experiences have made me both a strategic thinker and an emotionally intelligent collaborator – someone who leads with compassion and purpose.

Why are you running for office? I was raised to honor and respect public servants – teachers, police officers, mail carriers, and community leaders who dedicate their lives to others. Over time, I’ve watched public discourse grow more divisive, and respect for civic duty begin to erode. I’m running to restore dignity, unity, and grace to public service.

I want to show our children that leadership can be kind, inclusive, and bold. I want to make sure every voice – especially those historically unheard – is represented and valued. I believe everyone deserves a seat at the table, and I will always make room for one more.

There have recently been numerous residential and commercial developments approved by the Town Council, and it is likely that more will be considered during the upcoming Council term. What is your overall opinion of the pace of development in West Hartford? Growth can be both exciting and unsettling. West Hartford today does not look like the one I remember from my Renbrook School days of the 1990s. As someone who has lived in New York City, Washington D.C., and Honolulu, I see the developments as a sign of a vibrant quality of life and economic vitality. I am committed to helping West Hartford remain a destination town and desirable place to live, work, and play without compromising its charm and character.

What are your specific ideas for keeping future budget increases to a minimum? Keeping budget increases to a minimum means generating more revenue – growing the Grand List. We must approach growing the Grand List responsibly by prioritizing projects that will yield the greatest return on investment. Revitalizing underused and vacant properties; encouraging more mixed-use properties; supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship; and adding more supply to our housing market will generate more revenue. Controlling spending, developing public-private partnerships, and improving the walkability will keep expenses low and spending local.

How do you think the town will need to/be able to respond to cuts in federal aid to education, Medicaid, and food assistance? I believe we must be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, first and foremost; advocate fiercely for state and federal funding; and pursue public-private partnerships to fill in the gaps to meet the needs of residents and ensure we can continue to provide high-quality essential services. 

Do national issues affect your approach to local governance, and if so, how? Yes. National issues always find their way to the kitchen table. We are interconnected – what affects one family, affects the community, and affects local government budgets. As local leaders we must respond with compassion and creativity to build efficient and resilient systems that will protect our residents during uncertainty.

What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing West Hartford today, and how do you plan to address it if elected?Affordability is the biggest challenge facing West Hartford. If elected, my plan to address affordability is to listen and work collaboratively with all stakeholders to: diversify housing types; foster a local economy that supports and grows small businesses; control spending and keep our municipal offices running efficiently; pursue any state and federal grants to support projects; support projects that preserve the charm and character of our town while modernizing an infrastructure with built-in resiliency; work with local partners including neighboring towns and non-profits to ease the financial burden of our residents.

What do you feel differentiates you from the candidates from other parties – or your own party – who are also running for this position? My personal and professional journey has been defined by service, adaptability, and empathy. These values guide my commitment to be a leader who listens to learn, who collaborates to empower, and who acts with intention and integrity to create lasting and meaningful change.

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