Patch Candidate Profile: Josh Kaye, New Canaan Board Of Education

NEW CANAAN, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in New Canaan and there are plenty of local races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

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

Democrat Josh Kaye is a New Canaan resident running for the Board of Education.

Education

I have a BA in the College of Social Studies from Wesleyan University, and an MA in History and a JD from Duke University.

What is your occupation?

I've been an attorney for 16 years. I've spent most of my career as a litigator handling a wide variety of commercial litigation and government investigations alongside an active pro bono practice. A few years ago, I transitioned to an in-house role, in large part so that I can spend more time closer to home with my young kids. I am currently Chief Counsel for Global Contingent & Litigation Risk at a specialty insurer.

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

My wife and I have two children. Our son is in second grade at East School and our daughter is in Pre-K and New Canaan Community Preschool.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

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

I currently serve as an appointed member of the New Canaan Ethics Board.

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 want to keep New Canaan's public schools strong. To do that, we need a Board of Education that is balanced, collaborative, constructive, thoughtful, and always puts students first.

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 for the New Canaan Board of Education is keeping focus on the issues that actually matter for maintaining excellence in our schools. We are facing significant challenges, including preparing for a potential enrollment boom, ensuring that our schools are safe and secure, and sustaining excellence in our curriculum so that New Canaan graduates continue to be well prepared to thrive an an ever-changing world.

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

If elected, I'll be able to contribute the perspective of an East School parent to the Board of Education. There are no other candidates, or sitting Board of Education members for that matter, who are parents to an East School student.

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

As a litigator, I've spent my career rolling up my sleeves and doing the hard work to understand the nuances of challenging issues. I have experience asking questions (and listening to the answers), challenging assumptions, and building consensus.