Enfield Candidate Profile: Philip Kober, Board Of Education

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

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

Name: Philip Kober

How old will you be as of Election Day? 34

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://www.enfieldrtc.org/

What city or town do you live in? Enfield

What office are you seeking? Board of Education

Please give us your party affiliation: Republican

Education: Master of Public Administration from Westfield State University.

What is your occupation? I am employed as a firefighter and also serve as a human resource specialist in the Army National Guard.

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

I am married with two wonderful children, ages three and one.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No family in politics. My spouse works for the Enfield Public Schools as a speech language pathologist.

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

I have not held elected office. I have been appointed to multiple municipal committees here in Enfield including the Inland Wetland and Watercourses Agency, Loan Review Committee, Economic Development Committee, Agricultural and Conservation Commissions, and the Ethics Commission.

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?

Our children are our most important resource. With two children of my own soon to enter the local school system, I have a vested interest in its efficiency and responsiveness. Moreover, I have long been motivated to work in the public sector and help people. My goal is to improve services and make things better for those that follow.

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

Financial stress. I intend to approach the Board of Education with this concern in mind and ensure the school’s budget and policies promote fiscal responsibility and the stewardship of resources whilst still providing essential services to our kids so they will succeed. The cost of living continues to rise, and the expenditures managed by our Board of Education are a significant portion of the town’s annual budget.

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

I will bring a broad spectrum of education and experience to the table. I will also have the unique ability to observe the long-term sustainability and output of our school system as I observe my children progress in real time. Furthermore, I have a range of leadership skills and critical thinking expertise fine-tuned through various professional environments ranging from student government to municipal committees and military service.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

While I am not directly challenging a specific individual, the current Board of Education majority has failed to deliver for our children. Their focus on social programs, divisive ideologies, and public theatrics has deprived students of the very reason they attend school – to learn and become prepared to participate in society as young adults. Enfield was recently identified as an “Alliance District,” meaning we are in the bottom 36 school districts statewide for our performance on standardized tests. I believe Enfield has the students, staff, and resources to do better. Focusing on academic instruction and quality improvement is one of my pillars coming into this campaign.

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

Beyond my focus on fiduciary responsibility and academics, I am also cognizant of unnecessary curriculum and policies in place. Our schools need to focus and build on basic educational subjects in order to see academic growth and improvement. We also recently observed a lot of misguided and ineffective policies and practices during the covid pandemic such as keeping children out of school and remote, followed by being masked when sitting down at desks six feet away from each other. This is not an environment conducive to learning. In addition, parental notice, informed consent, and freedom of choice are critical themes the Board of Education needs to enforce.

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

Since this is my first gamble for elected office, I would be remiss to offer direct examples. In civic organizations and municipal boards where I have served, however, I have been well-recognized as an involved and knowledgeable member and often found myself nominated for leadership roles, such as Chair or Vice Chair. I have upheld this trust in my knowledge, skills, and abilities and followed our underlying objective, whether identified in a mission statement or empowering ordinance. Specifically, I look back on my time as Chair of the Enfield Ethics Commission handling detailed complaints as well as my tenure as the Shaker Pines Firefighter’s Association President during the leaps towards district consolidation.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

As I decided to run for this office, I heard a popular quote attributed to the Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take.”

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

I can offer a unique insight, having worked as a certified Moderator for the last several elections here in Enfield. Municipal elections tend to have the lowest voter turnout rates despite those offices controlling most of your day-to-day lives and tax dollars. I hope everyone reading this takes the time to vote, either in person on Election Day or via the absentee ballot process. If you are not a registered voter, please take the time to do so well before November 7th. You may also consider the election day registration process if you wait until then. Thank you!