NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter(s) of endorsement. We will publish endorsement letters from New Canaan residents through Oct. 24. Please send them to editor@newcanaanite.com.
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New Canaan could not be more fortunate to have Brendan Hayes running for his third term on the Board of Education. He is a dedicated servant of this town with a proven track record of putting the best interests of our children at the forefront of his decisions. Having three children at various stages of academic development, he brings pragmatic insight and alignment to this important role. Leveraging his experience as a successful investment banker, he has helped our community optimize its investments in our schools. Brendan is thoughtful and passionate about supporting our spectacular administration and teachers, attracting/retaining the best talent, and providing strong oversight for the district.
As the parent of a recent New Canaan High School graduate, I have been able to watch the rich journey of personal growth and preparedness that our district offers the children in our community. If Brendan is re-elected to New Canaan’s BOE, I will rest assured knowing he has the fortitude and balance to stay the course in putting the quality of our district’s educational experience first without getting entangled in the distraction of curriculum politics. It’s thoughtful public servants like Brendan who consistently put the present and future needs of our district and its students into every decision he makes. Please join me in supporting Brendan Hayes for BOE.
Mark Grzymski, Vice Chair Town Council
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Dear Editor:
There is a lot of talk during election season about Board of Education members and candidates having “skin in the game.” With that in mind, I write to strongly endorse Josh Kaye for the two-year Board of Education seat.
Among his many qualifications for this seat—including his pro bono work on behalf of domestic violence survivors and his current service on the town’s Board of Ethics—Josh Kaye is the father of a student at East Elementary School. Notably, he is the only candidate who currently has a child at East, and when elected, he will be the only sitting Board of Education member with a child there.
Mr. Kaye also has a child in preschool, who will presumably matriculate to East in the near future.
West Elementary is disproportionately represented among both Board of Education members and candidates; South Elementary, Saxe Middle School, and New Canaan High School are also well represented. Shouldn’t East Elementary have a seat at the table too? As a parent to an East Elementary student, I think so. Having representation with connections to all of our excellent public schools will only make them stronger.
You want skin in the game? Join me in voting for Josh Kaye for Board of Education.
Hilary Ormond
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A little over a year ago, I attended a New Canaanite meeting and saw Janet Fonss in action. A controversial subject came up, and Janet defended her position with polite force and facts. After that experience, I decided that Janet was a person whom I wanted to know better, and I am so glad that I did.
Janet has history in New Canaan and has been a part of the fabric of its life for 24 years. While she has lived here, Janet has done it all, from school volunteer to classroom coordinator, and fundraiser for school programs. Janet is a leader. She was the Co-President of the West Elementary School Parent Teacher Committee and Board Member of the New Canaan Beautification League and the Organization of Chinese Americans in Fairfield County. She has also volunteered in other charities such as the National Charity League and the New England Dance Theater/Academy.
A knowledge of finance is essential to being an effective member of New Canaan’s Town Council. Janet certainly qualifies. She worked in financial services for Chase Manhattan Bank, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank after having earned a B.S. In Business Management and Marketing from Boston College. Janet will see to it that fiscal responsibility is addressed with the various issues that come before the Town Council.
The New Canaan Town Council is comprised of 12 members. To successfully work with 11 other people, you must be transparent, collegial and non-partisan. Janet has those qualities and more. Janet has 9 siblings. She knows how to work with other people. I will vote for Janet on November 7, and I encourage you to do so as well.
Ruth Rothseid