Lina Lee shares with Patch why she should be elected as a Town Council member in New Canaan.
NEW CANAAN, CT — Election Day on Nov. 4 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot.
Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing their towns.
Candidate's Name:
Lina Lee
What office are you seeking?
Party Affiliation:
Democrat
Occupation:
I am an attorney and serve as the Executive Director of the Connecticut Bar Association.
Family:
I live in New Canaan with my husband, Hassan Minhas, and our golden doodle, Archie. Hassan is a forensic psychiatrist who specializes in autism. He serves as Chief of Autism Services at the Hospital for Special Care and is also the Medical Director at Turnbridge.
We were married at Waveny Park and feel fortunate to call New Canaan home. We look forward to building our family here.
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No.
Previous public office, appointive or elective:
No.
Why are you seeking this office?
I am running for Town Council because I am deeply invested in New Canaan and want to help ensure the town continues to thrive. I believe my experience in governance, budgeting, and policy can help strengthen how we plan and make decisions for the long term.
I have always been committed to public service and have a proven record of leadership, strategic planning, and effective results. I was born and raised in New York and earned my undergraduate degree from Cornell University and my law degree from Boston University School of Law. As Executive Director of the Connecticut Bar Association, I lead a statewide organization of more than 8,000 attorneys and legal professionals, overseeing governance strategy, fiscal planning, and legislative advocacy that affect communities across Connecticut. I also serve as Secretary of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, which distributes more than $370 million in legal aid funding statewide.
Previously, I founded and led a firm in New York City for six years, growing it into a 30 attorney organization. There, I directed litigation against large developers who misused affordable housing laws to push out of scale projects into long standing neighborhoods. That work gave me both legal expertise in land use and zoning and a deep understanding of how governance decisions shape communities.
I now want to bring that experience to the local level. I have direct experience with issues that are priorities in New Canaan, including charter revision, long term planning, and responsible development. Having worked extensively on policy implementation, I understand how crucial details are to making sound decisions.
Throughout my career, I have been proactive, strategic, and results oriented, with a focus on collaboration and follow through. I would bring that same dedication and experience to the Town Council to help New Canaan make thoughtful, transparent decisions that preserve the town’s character, maintain fiscal discipline, and strengthen planning for the years ahead.
The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
The single most pressing issue facing New Canaan is how we manage development in a way that protects the town’s character and ensures residents have a real voice in the process. I do not believe that large, top down projects are the answer to creating balanced and sustainable housing. Real progress comes from community driven planning and thoughtful, smaller scale approaches that align with our town’s infrastructure and values.
I have direct experience working on zoning and land use issues, including challenging developments that did not reflect the needs of the community. I understand how critical it is to analyze the details, build strong legal and planning foundations, and engage residents early in the process.
My focus is to strengthen how we evaluate proposals, ensure decisions are transparent and data informed, and find creative solutions that meet community goals without compromising what makes this town special.
What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I bring hands-on experience with the issues that are central to New Canaan’s future, including governance, responsible development, and long term planning. As an attorney, I have worked on zoning and land use matters and led litigation against developers who sought to move forward with projects that lacked community support or were inconsistent with neighborhood character. That experience gave me practical insight into how policy, process, and community engagement intersect to shape effective local decision making.
In my role as Executive Director of the Connecticut Bar Association, I am engaged in statewide discussions on legislation and governance and work closely with leading legal experts and policymakers across Connecticut. This has given me a deep understanding of how governing bodies operate, how to strengthen systems of accountability, and how to balance diverse perspectives to reach well reasoned outcomes. For example, as the town begins its Charter revision discussions, I can contribute real, practical experience from working with large governance structures and complex policy frameworks, helping to ensure that the process is transparent, well organized, and grounded in best practices.
I have a proven record of leadership and initiative and bring a disciplined, analytical approach to every responsibility I take on. I would bring that same commitment and perspective to the Town Council, approaching each matter with preparation, fairness, and attention to detail to strengthen the effectiveness and transparency of local government.
What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
One priority I would like to see strengthened is New Canaan’s long term planning framework. The town has a solid foundation in its planning processes, but there is an opportunity to add more tools for data collection and analysis so that we can anticipate needs five, ten, or even twenty years ahead. Looking at factors such as school enrollment, traffic patterns, infrastructure conditions, and demographic trends would allow us to plan more comprehensively and proactively.
This includes assessing the condition of public buildings, roads, and parks, setting clear priorities, and aligning projects with realistic budget forecasts. It also means sharing this information openly so residents can understand what is ahead, how decisions are made, and how they can contribute input early in the process. A stronger long range plan would give taxpayers confidence that projects are not reactive, but part of a thoughtful, data informed strategy to preserve what makes New Canaan special while preparing for the future.
With my background in governance, budgeting, and organizational strategy, I know how to put systems in place that translate long term vision into practical steps. I want to contribute to that process, helping New Canaan plan more proactively, communicate more transparently, and align its priorities with the values of the community.
What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I have built my career leading complex organizations, advancing policy reform, and improving systems of governance. As Executive Director of the Connecticut Bar Association, I bring extensive leadership experience, a proven record of innovation, and the ability to deliver measurable results. I am currently guiding the Association through its 150th anniversary year, overseeing legislative advocacy, governance strategy, and professional development initiatives that strengthen the legal profession and enhance public trust. Under my leadership, the CBA recently held its largest Connecticut Legal Conference since the pandemic, reflecting a renewed sense of engagement and growth within the organization. I also work closely with statewide leaders, policymakers, and legal experts to build transparent, accountable systems that serve both the profession and the public.
Before coming to Connecticut, I founded and served as Executive Director of a law practice in New York City. Under my leadership, the organization grew significantly in six years and led litigation addressing predatory development and rezonings that threatened neighborhood stability.
Throughout my career, I have demonstrated a deep commitment to civic leadership and service. I have been appointed to the Housing Court Advisory Council in New York to assess judges and currently serve as Secretary of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, as well as on several nonprofit and professional boards. My contributions to the legal field have been widely recognized. I was named to the 40 Under 40 (2021, 2022, 2023) by City & State New York, and the Power Players (2024) by PoliticsNY and amNY Metro.
These experiences have prepared me to approach public service with fairness, diligence, and follow through. I bring both the leadership and hands-on experience needed to strengthen accountability, encourage transparency, and ensure decisions are made with the long term health of the community in mind.
What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
When I first moved to Connecticut, I learned that the state’s motto is “Land of Steady Habits,” and I have carried that as a guiding principle. To me, it means that hard work, consistency, and discipline matter more than quick wins or shortcuts. Leadership is not about reacting to every challenge, but about staying prepared, focused, and persistent, even when the path forward is difficult.
That approach has guided me throughout my career and reflects how I lead: by doing the work, following through, and staying steady in both purpose and process. It is a philosophy I would bring to serving on the Town Council, grounded in perseverance, accountability, and a commitment to doing things the right way for the community.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I believe that effective local government depends on preparation, transparency, and respect for process. My approach to public service has always been guided by those values. I do my homework, listen carefully, and make decisions based on facts and long term planning, not politics.
Experience in governance matters. Having led large organizations, managed budgets, and overseen policy and legislative initiatives, I understand how systems work and how to make them work better. I know that good governance is not only about outcomes, but about process, accountability, and earning public trust through transparency and consistency.
Public service, to me, is a responsibility to listen, to lead, and to leave things stronger than when you found them. I see serving on the Town Council as an opportunity to contribute my experience in a meaningful way and to help ensure that New Canaan continues to thrive through thoughtful planning and principled leadership.