Patch Candidate Profile: Brennan Coakley, Newtown Board of Education

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

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

Brennan Coakley, 36, is running for election to the Newtown Board of Education as a Republican.

Education.

Bachelors from Penn State University

What is your occupation?

Our company provides equipment solutions to manufacturers seeking automation for both their packaging and processing applications. We've been providing equipment since 1978.

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

My wife, Anna and our young son, Callan. Choosing Newtown when we were buying a home was an easy choice since this is where I grew up and have family still in town.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

n/a

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

n/a

Why are you seeking this office?

I'm seeking a seat on the Board of Education for the following reasons. I'm a parent and being an advocate for your child is imperative. My personal stance on the BOE is that it shouldn't be political and ultimately focused on what is best for the children of Newtown. My political views have always been grounded in common sense principles and critical thought; it's important to truly understand conflicting perspectives and compromise accordingly for the best interest of our children.

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

The feeling that public school education has been slowly moving towards removing the parental element and leaving a divide. Parents and their children are obviously the lifeblood of any community and there needs to be a clear line of communication between trilogy of teachers, schools, parents to bring a sense of uniformity and candidness so that we can be one cohesive unit.

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

The difference between myself and the team I'm running with (Todd Higgins and Shannon Tomai) is that we believe in building and maintaining Newtown to be a school district that is emulated as the standard with academic excellence and fiscal accountability to ensure resources are wisely invested to ensure our children have the best education available.

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

From an early age; competition, team cohesiveness and overcoming adversity has formed me into the person I am today. Whether it was battling back from injuries as a collegiate athlete or learning that your mental strength is just as important as your physical strength. The lessons learned from playing sports and being on teams have a tremendous carryover to life as a contributing adult and in the business world.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

"You either get better or you get worse, you never stay the same" - Joe Paterno

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

My political views are conservative and as previously mentioned when it comes to children it's all about common sense and what is in the best interest our our children as they go through the school system.