Glastonbury Election Profiles 2023: Matt Saunig, Board Of Ed

GLASTONBURY, CT — Matt Saunig is running for the Glastonbury school board in the 2023 municipal election.

Name

Matt Saunig

How old will you be as of Election Day?

37

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

https://glastonburydems.com

What city or town do you live in?

Glastonbury

What office are you seeking?

Board of Education

If you are running in a district, you can specify the district here.

n/a

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democrat

Education.

University of Connecticut, B.A.; The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, J.D.

What is your occupation?

Assistant Director, Connecticut Department of Banking

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

Wife (Ellen), 2 year-old daughter (Samantha), and corgi (Brendan)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

n/a

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

Town Planning & Zoning Commission (2017-2020), Public Buildings Commission (2016-2017)

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?

I am running for re-election to continue the work of making sure Glastonbury has first-rate schools that prepare our students for the future. As the father of a toddler, I have a vested interest in making sure that Glastonbury Schools continue providing an excellent education.

I also want to ensure that the investments we make in education deliver value for Glastonbury taxpayers.

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

I believe one of the most pressing issues facing our students is mental health. Focusing on the whole child, including mental health, is essential to ensuring that our students are in the best position to learn.

To that end, I'm proud of our mental health initiatives, including increased funding to add student support centers in Gideon Welles, Smith, and GHS. I will continue to advocate for additional ways to set our students up for success.

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

There are a number of accomplishments during my tenure on the Board of Ed, including mental health initiatives, innovative staff retention/recruitment efforts, funding a new strength and conditioning facility at GHS, and the Naubuc open classroom renovations.

Additionally, I have developed a reputation as a fiscal moderate who seeks to ensure that the investments we make in education are smart and targeted towards delivering an excellent education for our students and return for our taxpayers.

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

n/a

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

Throughout my tenure on the Board of Ed, I have remained laser-focused on my core constituencies: students, families, staff, and taxpayers. I will remain focused on serving each of these groups for as long as I am fortunate to serve on the Board of Ed.

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

-fully funded a first-rate school system that promotes educational excellence and prepares students for the future

-passed responsible, largely unanimous budgets that made smart, targeted investments and also delivered value for taxpayers

-additional resources to support student mental health, including student support centers

-funded a new strength and conditioning facility at GHS

-renovation of Naubuc open classrooms

-innovative teacher retention/recruitment initiatives, including the Early Learning Center

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

You are only as good as your word.

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

It has been a privilege to serve on the Board of Ed. I would be honored to have your support on November 7.