Candidate Profile: Shannon Riley, Brookfield Brd Of Assessment Appeals

BROOKFIELD, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Brookfield and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Brookfield Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Shannon Riley, 41, is running as a Democrat for a seat on the Brookfield Board of Assessment Appeals. She is a public school visual arts teacher, and has a BFA in studio art from The College of New Rochelle with an MS in curriculum development from Western Connecticut State University. She and her husband of 15 years "are the proud parents to four boys who we are committed to raising in Brookfield."

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

I have sat on the Board of Assessment Appeals as an appointee since February of this year. I have also been a member of the Brookfield Arts Commission since 2015.

Why are you seeking this office?

I believe that a town is stronger when residents get involved and share their different perspectives with each other. I care about our town and that the opportunity to serve Boards and Committees is a privilege and responsibility of my civic duty. My background in public education and visual arts offers skill sets and experience that sets me apart from other candidates, as I have experience in classroom management where my main focus is to create an environment that is safe and equitable for all members. I engage daily in public speaking, written and visual communication with a variety of stakeholders. My training has also provided plenty of opportunities to engage in data analysis and planning in response to what the data shows, but my experience in the education system also allows for the flexibility of mind to see how the data is not always the whole story and that individual experience can provide a more nuanced interpretation of what the whole picture is. As a person I have cultivated patience and regularly engage in active listening so I can fully understand someone’s perspective and understand what they see as the problem or solution before forming my own conclusions.

Please complete this statement: 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 my constituents is that they are facing unprecedented challenges coming out of a period where the costs of living changed rapidly in response to the market demands. I plan to utilize my knowledge and understanding to listen to their cases and consider their evidence with an open mind and empathy for each person seeking a hearing with the BOAA. I plan to continue to work with my fellow board members in the spirit of Bipartisanship towards what is best for the community of Brookfield. Residents have a right to understand and question the taxes they are being asked to pay and to have people whose job it is to help them understand where these numbers and calculations are coming from. I feel as an educator, my experience in breaking down complex issues for new learners to understand and make use of that information as well as my passion for continuing my own understanding and knowledge qualifies me as a strong candidate and as a top reason I am choosing to run for the office I volunteered to fill as an appointee.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have had a varied work experience as a public school educator where I have used my ability as an artist to look at information and ideas from alternative perspectives and because of my background considered a wide variety of perspectives. As a parent of four children, working a full time job, volunteering as a Lead Mentor for FIRST Robotics as well as volunteering my time on the Arts Commission and Brookfield Democrats, I have made it a priority to be a contributing member of Brookfield a place my family has loved being a part of. I am not a career politician or someone who has followed the traditional path towards political involvement, I am just a mother and community member that when she sees something needs to be done, instead of waiting for someone else to do it, I step in and help with everything I have.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

I’m here to fully support Dunn/Belden and the qualified team running on the Democratic Slate for Brookfield. The Row A team is full of intelligent and qualified professionals that are passionate about Brookfield and making it work for all residents, current and future.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

With each position I’ve held whether professionally or in a volunteer capacity, I have always been viewed as someone people can count on to handle important tasks or to be knowledgeable and provide clarity in communication. I am also extremely proud of always having been seen as someone who displays workplace pride and someone who is a team player working with a variety of personalities and opinions.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The best advice anyone ever gave me was to listen with the intent to understand and not with the intent to respond. This has served me well over my entire professional experience, when I am open and ready to hear what others are saying, I can ask questions so I fully understand what they are trying to say and able to better understand their perspective and we have a more productive conversation. Many of our disagreements come about when people are set in their beliefs and only want to be heard instead of trying to understand the perspectives of others.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am committed to Brookfield and to seeing this community thrive, I want to be a part of the future of a Brookfield my family can be proud of and live in for generations to come.