Milford 2014 Candidate Profile: Theresa Diomedes Dias, Tax Collector

Editor's Note: The following profile is part of a series highlighting the candidates running for seats in contested races as part of this year's town election, which takes place on Tuesday, April 1. Milford Patch has reached out to all candidates in the contested races to showcase why they're running and what they hope to bring to the board. Check back leading up to the election for more profiles on the candidates.

Theresa Diomedes Dias is running for the position of Milford Tax Collector along with Melissa Alves-Tomas. For the full preliminary ballot for this year's election, click here.

Why are you running for the role of Tax Colelctor?   

I have worked in the Tax Collector's office for six years under retired Tax Collector, Paula Fortin. I was appointed Acting Tax Collector unanimously by the Board of Selectmen. Prior to this position, I worked as the Assistant to the Assessor Administrator. I enjoy and would like to continue to serve this community and provide the taxpayers with an experienced person that has proven she is capable of doing the job and can provide Milford tax payers with the service they have come to expect. I have formed many relationships with the residents of Milford and enjoy interacting and helping them on a daily basis.  I plan to continue to maintain the 99 percent collection rate of taxes along with working with people that have fallen on hard times to get their past due taxes up to date. I have the experience and education in Tax Collection and Assessing which makes me the only qualified candidate for Tax Collector. 

What do you hope to accomplish?  

The most pressing issue currently for the Tax Collector’s job is replacing the computers that we are currently trying to keep running. The IT study that was just completed stated that the Tax Collector's office is one of the offices which should receive new computers because of the age and capacity of what we are currently working with. This study shows that the Tax Collector’s office is one of the many offices in the town that requires updated technology. A good manager needs to be able to work with a tight budget and prioritize what updates can be made with the money available.

What do you see is the most pressing issue facing Milford right now in relation to the seat for which you're running?  

The most pressing issues for Milford, in my opinion right now, are the computers used not only in the Tax Collector’s Office, but in other offices as well.

What do you think you could do to help resolve this issue?  

I will continue to work with the Town Administrator, the Finance Committee, and the IT Committee to resolve the issue pertaining to the computers.

Name one unique idea you would like to bring to the table if elected in April. 

I have just successfully negotiated and implemented on line payments for the town’s taxpayers. This may not be unique, but it has been something the taxpayers have been asking for. I will continue to listen to the taxpayers to see what else they would like to see from the Tax Collector’s Office that would benefit them. I would like to research the idea of e-billing. I would like to see how many towns have implemented this, what the pros and cons are, what is the cost to implement a program of this type and possibly survey the taxpayers and see if there is interest in this.

What is one thing voters might not know about you? 

I am a lifelong resident of Milford with family roots going back ninety years. I am married and have one grown son. I love spending time with my family who mean so much to me along with my lifelong friends that I cherish. I have been a volunteer at the Milford Food Pantry for twenty years. I am half Italian and half Portuguese. My mother was born and raised at Prospect Heights and has five sisters and one brother, who was the first Mayor of the Heights, Oracio “Flash” Moreira. My father, the late Antonio Diomedes, who was a Marine who fought in the Korean War, was raised on Pond Street and was one of five children.