Cheshire Election 2023: Faith Ham Running For Board Of Education

CHESHIRE, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Cheshire with plenty of races on the ballot.

Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 7 and cast their ballots for seats on the Town Council, Board of Education, Planning and Zoning Commission and more.

Cheshire Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Faith Ham, 65, is running for re-election to the Cheshire Board of Education as a Republican.

Education.

M.A., University Missouri School of Journalism; B.A. Allegheny College; primary education in Middlefield/Regional District 13

What is your occupation?

Retired teacher (12 years); reporter (6 years)

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

Husband Robert
Daughter Kathryn
Son Jack

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

Cheshire Board of Education, 2019 to present

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

Cheshire Public Schools is recognized as one of the best school districts in the state due in large measure to its board of education. We are committed to the success and well-being of our students, their families, and the entire community. To that end, we’ve worked collaboratively with the administration and have been responsive to the districts’ stakeholders.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is \_\_\_, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Local control. Cheshire runs an outstanding school district. We have a talented, professional staff committed to educating the whole student. The results speak for themselves. Yet state and federal government continue to impose mandates and restrictions that challenge our administrators’ and teachers’ abilities to do their jobs well. Likewise, I will continue to respond to the concerns of all constituents in this community, be they parents worried about the school climate or older taxpayers – many of them alumni of CPS -- worried about the impact of rising taxes on their ability to live and thrive in Cheshire.

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

I lived seven years as an expatriate in Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. As circumstances have dictated, I’ve reinvented my career more times than I can count. Those experiences have taught me to never assume I have all the answers.

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

I will focus on the work we’ve done to earn the district its reputation. We minimized learning loss through the pandemic. We’ve actively engaged the entire community through the modernization process. We've addressed and responded to constituents' concerns on a host of issues, including school climate, masking, and curriculum. We’ve expanded our course options and alliances with local businesses to open avenues for career-ready graduates. Through the filming and archiving of all meetings, we are more transparent than any Cheshire BOE has been. To the best of our ability, we have pushed back against unfunded government mandates that erode discretionary spending, including instruction.

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

Given the challenges of the past four years, I'm confident I can handle this job.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Seek the good, the true, and the beautiful.

Are you running for office in Cheshire? Email vincent.salzo@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile on Cheshire Patch.