Meriden Election 2023: Elmer Gonzalez Running For Board Of Ed

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

Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 7 and cast their ballots for Mayor, City Council, Board of Education and more.

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

Elmer Gonzalez, 55, is running for election to the Meriden Board of Education as a Republican.

Education.

B.S. Business Administration

What is your occupation?

Associate Director of Operations/Business Owner

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

Married to Caroline Gonzalez, 3 kids, Mathew Gonzalez (20), Dayanara Gonzalez (18), and Isaiah Gonzalez (12).

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My wife Caroline works for The City of Meriden.

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

Yes appointed to fill vacancy left by Ray Oueltte on the BoE 22-23

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’m seeking re-election because I wanted to give back to my community . Being a lifetime Meriden resident I felt that expanding college and career opportunities, building relationships with technical schools, and increasing the involvement of minority families within the MPS and were students succeed here would be my focus. It’s all about the students not I but we, making them inclusive on all levels.

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

Diversity-making sure the MPS recruit the best qualified teachers.

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

Proven leadership-highest test scores in district history, great partnership with our unions, award winning music programs, Multilingual lounges to support high school students at PHS/MHS. Enhanced security measures, and much more continued quality improvements to come…

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

Continue quality improvements with our community feedback-SRO’s and safety, our school districts, collectively discuss ways to present ceremonies are not on the same day for families, spread BOE meetings to different schools.

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

Collectively working with my constituents in making sure our students on a bipartisan level have the tools they need to be successful in their education. Vote on funding, good policy and curriculum.

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

Go out and vote Nov 7th row B or E. Thank you

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