Patch Candidate Profile: Hale Bayram For Greenwich Tax Collector

GREENWICH, 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 the town.

Candidate's Name:
Hale Bayram

What office are you seeking?
Tax Collector

What town do you live in?
Greenwich

Campaign Website
https://greenwichdemocrats.org

Party Affiliation:
Democrats

Occupation:
Finance executive with more than 25 years global experience

Family:
I am an immigrant and have lived in Greenwich for over 23 years with my husband and our two daughters, who attended Hamilton Ave., Western Middle School & Greenwich High School. My husband, Atilla Bayram, PhD, is a coastal engineer with more than 30 years of professional and academic experience. My older daughter, Isra Selin, attended Fordham, where she studied biology and did a master's in psychology. Today, she is a cancer researcher at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. My younger daughter, Melisa, is a junior at Trinity College in Hartford, where she is studying neuroscience.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
My daughter, Isra Selin Bayram, was elected to the Greenwich RTM in the 2023 election. She serves in RTM, D3, and the "Health & Human Service Committee".

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
I was elected for RTM as a write-in candidate in 2023. Now, I serve on the D3, Finance, Labor Contract & Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committees (CDBG). Now, I am giving back to my community through meaningful volunteer activities that have a positive impact our communities.

Why are you seeking this office?
I am an accomplished executive with over 25 years of global leadership experience in finance, technology, risk management, strategy and product management across payments & consumer goods at Mastercard & Unilever. I am passionate about to deliver best-in-class services. As Greenwich Tax Collector, I plan to bring 21st-century tools to a system that is overdue for changes.

I will provide the option to pay taxes in person, online, or by mobile phone.

This effort starts with better technology, more transparent timely communication, and a more responsive approach to residents.

I want to simplify the process and deliver greater transparency and efficiency.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
One pressing challenge will be ensuring tax compliance and managing the collection process efficiently, especially in light of any financial uncertainty or changes in state and federal tax regulations.

I would approach this by improving communication about their tax details (e.g., property assessment value, etc.), educating the residents, and ensuring they fully understand their tax obligations and available payment options.
Today, Greenwich's 99% tax collection rate also includes the late interest income. The late payment interest rate is 18% which is very high. When you don't pay on time, the interest accumulates at a high cost. Nobody wants to leave the high-interest debt to their kids.

I love to help taxpayers simplify and modernize the process by offering fast, low-cost payment options.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I hold a bachelor's degree in Business Administration & a Master's in Finance from Istanbul University, a post-graduation in Accounting from the UConn & Executive Education at the UPenn's Wharton School. With my more than 25 years of strong finance and technology background, digitalizing government services has the potential to unlock tremendous value for residents and town administrations. I want to create the resident-centric e-government tax services with efficiency and transparency. I have done it for many years, and I'm ready to serve our community.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
I am passionate about education for the best-in-class education. Education could change people's lives for the better.
As an immigrant, I am very proud of my daughter's academic and professional achievements, thanks to the excellent foundation provided by Greenwich Public School education.

In April, the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) voted to reduce the Greenwich Public Schools budget by approximately $4 million. As part of RTM, the District 3 and Finance committees, I supported SOMR (NOT cut the budget) for the Greenwich Public School. We must maintain our education system with the best teachers, tools, and programs to keep delivering excellence.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
With more than 25 years of experience in finance, risk, technology, and a willingness to collaborate, I led very strategic product/ projects with great success stories in Mastercard, Unilever, and RTM.

One example, I headed the Mastercard Installment Payment Services globally to provide consumers with payment flexibility during COVID. The digital-first, "Buy Now, Pay Later" consumer product was named a finalist for 'Best Digital Initiative' at the 21st annual Global Banking Tech Awards.

When I was at Mastercard, I was obsessed with providing the best-in-class customer experience. I conducted many customer satisfaction surveys to listen and measure the success transparently. As a "Six Sigma Green Belt" certified professional, I have consistently implemented self-sufficient, streamlined, efficient processes and business models with high customer satisfaction scores.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
This world is a mountain, in which your works are echoed back to you. (RUMI)

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
As a long-time Greenwich resident, immigrant & and hard-working finance professional, this is a fantastic life and learning journey for me. In 2023, I was elected for RTM as a write-in candidate; now I'm very proud to serve on the D3, Finance, Labor Contract & Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committees (CDBG).

In 2025, I was part of CDBG and evaluated "Coffee for Goods" and "Food Bank Lower Fairfield County" for the grant allocation. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life in so many ways. We have a wonderful, diverse community that cares for our people and positively impacts their lives.

Since July, I've been knocking on doors, attending events, and meeting our neighbors across Greenwich – just listening and exchanging ideas. I am passionate about helping people with fantastic solutions in our community. Let's work together to create the best-in-class services in Greenwich because we all deserve it!