Westfield Ward 2 General Election 2025: Vikram Venkataraman

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Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the office of the clerk. The responses received will be published between now and the general election. Contact edward.callahan@patch.com with any questions regarding coverage.

Name: Vikram “Vik” Venkataraman

Age: 44

Town of residence: Westfield

Position sought: Town Council, Ward 2

Party affiliation: Democrat

Family: Wife, two children (8th & 2nd Grade), and my parents

Education: Rutgers College, Bachelors in Computer Science & Economics

Occupation: Middle Market Banker

Previous or current elected or appointed office: None

Why are you seeking office?

Running for office wasn’t originally on my to-do list. Over coffee one morning, a neighbor asked if I’d ever consider running for town council.

I was reluctant at first because I felt local issues have become too politicized. Challenges we face here in Westfield, such as safe streets, stormwater fixes, and fiscal responsibility, aren’t partisan issues.

They’re community issues.

After reflecting with friends and mentors, I realized this is precisely why I should run for council.

With my professional background and deep commitment to Westfield, I believe I can build coalitions, find common ground, and bring transparency, pragmatic problem-solving, and a little dose of common sense.

I’m running because I believe in putting neighbors first. Listening before talking. Making sure every voice is heard.

That’s how I’ll lead if I earn your support.

What's your reaction when you see businesses, etc. vacate downtown? What do you look for in new tenants?

It’s heartbreaking to see hardworking entrepreneurs have to shut their doors because they couldn’t continue to meet operating costs. I’ve spent more than 20 years in finance and banking, working with small business owners, and I’ve been one myself.

I know how much they invest – emotionally and financially – to make their dreams a reality, and it’s gut-wrenching when those dreams meet headwinds.

As I speak with neighbors, I often hear we have “too many food establishments” or “not enough retail or business services.” The reality is more complex.

We do have retail shops like Athleta, Faherty, 2nd Street, and the Brass Shop. We have many business services such as law offices, dental practices, and gyms/studios.

We also have one of the lowest vacancy rates in years, which means small businesses are attracted to Westfield. So, why are they vacating?

Consumer behavior has shifted. All of us have Amazon packages daily on our doorstep.

The challenge isn’t attraction; it’s sustainability. Downtowns must now compete not just with each other, but with e-commerce and convenience.

The population of Westfield alone is insufficient to meet the demand of our small business community.

Here are my priorities to strengthen business vitality downtown and beyond:

• Establish more events that bring people into town, such as music, arts, and cultural experiences, capitalizing on Open Quimby.
• Expand support for and inclusion of our businesses outside of the Central Business District (downtown).
• Streamline permitting so small businesses can focus on customers, not red tape.
• Listen to our business community in partnership with local community organizations, understanding what’s working and what’s not.
• Measure what matters, such as foot traffic, curb turnover, seasonality impacts.
• Encourage daytime foot traffic from corporate tenants, so folks working in town also shop and buy here.
• Implement physical directories in town as well as on the town website, so residents and visitors know what is available.

Great downtowns don’t happen by accident. They evolve through collaboration, data, and iteration. That’s how we help small businesses thrive and win together.

What's your approach to overdevelopment concerns in Westfield?

Development should enhance Westfield’s character, not diminish it. Growth is inevitable, but how and where we grow matters. My view is that we must:

• Preserve the small-town feel: The charm, walkability, local businesses, and strong downtown all define Westfield.
• Hold developers accountable: I’ve worked on large-scale commercial real estate development financing, leveraging my experience with similar sized programs in my professional life.
• Be responsible for infrastructure & capacity: Every new project must be evaluated for traffic impact, utilities, public safety, environmental stress and community integrity.

If elected, I will scrutinize current and future development projects with both community values and fiscal discipline in mind.

Talk to me about public safety, whether it's your idea on how to help prevent vehicles being broken into around Westfield, or some other concern, where do you see an opportunity to improve?

Public safety is foundational. It works best when it’s proactive, visible and data driven. In Westfield we must continue to build on the incredible work of our local law enforcement.

My priorities would include:

• Strengthening technology and information gathering: Supporting our police force with upgraded license‐plate readers, data analytics on crime patterns, and robust information sharing with nearby jurisdictions.
• Community engagement: launching programs such as “Safe Streets for Kids,” a proposed initiative that aims to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety for children. This would also be a collaborative intercommunity-led effort to lobby Trenton to enact e-bike legislation.
• Transparency and accountability: I would advocate for quarterly reports to the Public Safety Committee, open-to-the-public review of key metrics (response time, major incident breakdowns, deployment strategies) so residents know what’s working and how resources might need to be re-allocated.

Safety isn’t just about reacting. It’s about good planning, partnership, and sustained investments that keep our town secure.

What do you believe is the most important concern to address when implementing a project such as the multi-million dollar proposed improvements to Houlihan-Sid Fay Fields?

When the town invests in a project such as Houlihan-Sid Fay, the focus should be on stewardship of resources, safety, community transparency, and benefit maximization. The outcome should match what families and athletes truly need, while mitigating adverse impacts.

This requires alignment with community needs. Fields should serve everyone who uses them.

We also need execution discipline, staying on budget and on schedule. Residents deserve updates on progress and spending, and lastly, we should minimize disruption to quality of life during both renovation phases and long-term.

To accomplish this, we need collaboration with the DPW, Recreation, Green Team, Finance, and Public Safety. Any improvements should respect environmental concerns, while delivering durable, inclusive, and financially responsible results for the next generation.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I’ll let voters decide whose approach best reflects Westfield’s needs, but as psychologist Carl Jung once said, "You are what you do, not what you say you'll do."

I believe differences ultimately show up in actions, not words.

First, my commitment to the community. Since moving here, I’ve coached youth sports teams, chaperoned the school chess club, and performed in as well as produced the Washington School Show (WSS) – a parent-led, 79-year tradition requiring months of collaboration, problem-solving, and execution.

As my friend and former producer Pradeep Nair noted during a last-minute show challenge, “Vik’s commitment and leadership… were extraordinary… that experience left me with deep respect for him — and a clear sense that he’s someone you can count on when times are tough.” Another former producer and Councilwoman, Linda Habgood, said, “It’s a volunteer job that requires leadership, organization and consensus building. And it is bar-none, the consummate proving ground for a member of Council.”

This is how I’ve fostered community –through active engagement in our families' lives, bringing people together.

Secondly, my approach to civic engagement — showing up and listening. During this campaign, I’ve canvassed thousands of residents.

I attended the Pride Flag Raise and listened to community members talk about inclusivity. I attended Juneteenth hosted by Westfield Neighborhood Council and listened to Pastor Clark’s sermon at Bethel Baptist as he spoke about the power of unity.

I also spoke with the Green Team about sustainability at the EV Car Show, and celebrated the amazing work of our first responders at National Night Out. I don’t just believe every voice in our community matters, I’ve proactively sought those voices out.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

There are three areas where I believe my direct, professional experience will prove valuable to Westfield:

• Downtown and small business vitality: I’ve had two decades of experience in finance and banking, supporting small businesses nationally. I’ve owned, advised, financed, and federally advocated for small businesses. I’ve also worked closely with hundreds of their trusted partners, such as accountants, attorneys, and advisors.
• Fiscal discipline: Professionally, I’ve managed credit risk, investment portfolios, and built financial models. I’ve managed downside risk, while maximizing outcomes.
• Balanced growth and development: I’ve underwritten large-scale commercial real estate development projects, ensuring contracts were structured responsibly, investors were protected, debt service obligations were met, and developers were held accountable to timelines and budgets.

What's a motto you live your life by?

Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

That’s my compass. This campaign is about service, not status.

I’m a neighbor, father, and coach, and I’m ready to serve. Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice; it’s about being the dependable one.

If elected, I’ll bring clarity of purpose, respectful collaboration, and a mindset of stewardship to every decision we make for Westfield, today and for generations to come.

What does it mean to you to represent Westfield?

To me, representing Westfield means earning the trust of my neighbors — not just their vote. It means showing up, listening with intention, and acting with integrity.

Westfield isn’t just where we live, it’s where our stories intersect. On the sidelines of a soccer game, during a school event, or over coffee on Quimby Street, we connect in the everyday moments that make this town special.

Representing Westfield means protecting those moments – through safe streets, vibrant small businesses, fiscal responsibility, and genuine civility.

If given the privilege to serve, I’ll lead the way I live, by listening first, doing my homework, and making thoughtful, data-informed decisions that reflect the best of who we are as neighbors and as a community.

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