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Health & Fitness

Honor, Integrity, Service

Honor, Integrity, Service should be any elected official's goal.

Honor, Integrity, Service

These are three words that are very important to me. Growing up in a home with my father, a career Air Force Officer and my 30 years as an Air Force Officer has allowed me to see citizens of this country practice and live these important character traits.

Since joining the Board of Education almost 8 years ago, I have tried to continue a way of life I took up when I joined the Air Force. Serving my country or my community with honor and integrity is the cornerstone of what I represent. 

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The only preconceived notion I had when I started that first campaign was to serve this community and help the students. I was tired of observing the
constant friction and sometimes outright fighting that was taking place on the
Board of Education, the Town Council and other government bodies here in Tolland. 

Once I was elected, I tried to keep in touch with members of the other party and foster collegial relations.  After two terms I was elected
as the Chairperson of the BOE. In that capacity, I have met individuals, and I have answered every letter, email and phone call I have received, regardless of whether the person was a Democrat, a Republican, an unaffiliated voter or in some cases a person who wasn’t old enough to vote yet. I am one of their representatives, and they had every right to expect some of my time to discuss an issue.

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In the Air Force I was often asked by the Commander to make various things take place. I was a facilitator. I would go out and find out the facts, bring people together and try to find the best way to make things happen. I have tried to do that while on the Board. 

I was very fortunate to have a great Chairperson (Fred Daniels) who I could talk to and meet to work on issues of mutual concern for the Council and the BOE. I have called and emailed members of both parties on the Council about various issues and again found Democrats and Republicans to treat me fairly and with respect.  Did we always agree? No way! Did we at least talk, discuss and lay issues on the table? Absolutely!

I would like to return to the BOE and continue
my "voluntary" work with the Council and other Board members. These next two
years are going to be tough with regards to the Budget. It is important that
the BOE present a budget that meets the needs of the students of Tolland and
does it with the least amount of money possible. It is incumbent of the BOE members to support the Town Council’s budget recommendation to the voters. The Board needs to develop an honest budget, and the Council and the voters need to tell us what they can afford. Whatever budget is finally passed, I can assure you that the Board and the entire staff of the Tolland School system will do its very best to graduate highly qualified students.

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