Orange Candidate Profile: Christopher Browe For Amity Bd Of Ed

ORANGE CT — Election day in Orange is drawing closer, and to help residents make an informed decision on Nov. 5, Orange Patch asked candidates for various elected offices to answer questions about their campaigns and the issues in town.

Chris Browe, a Republican, is seeking re-election to the Amity Board of Education. The 51-year-old has "been married for 27 years to my lovely wife, Kim, who has a Masters in Education, teaches at University of New Haven and is a Board of Ed member in Orange. Together we have have three daughters, Katie (22), Belle (19), and Bridget (14). Bridget is currently attending Amity HIgh School and Educational Center for the Arts."

Browe has a BS in Microbiology and an MBA, and he has been in clinical research industry for the past 25 years.

The single most pressing issue facing Orange is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our town/district is the decreasing State support from unfunded mandates and the shifting of costs onto the towns (e.g. pensions). As educational costs are already the major portion of town budgets, we must try to protect the taxpayer from these increases by continuing to exercise fiscal responsibility, all while maintaining school excellence and student outcomes.

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

I am concerned for the whole Amity student, not only their academic achievement but also larger issues that can impact student physical safety and emotional wellbeing. In responding to an everchanging educational landscape, reduced funding from the State, the Board must prioritize what’s best for our students.

We have been formally reviewing safety and security at our schools, and while we can all agree on safety, I would like to make sure that these changes don’t have any negative side effects on the student body. For instance, we just upgraded all three school entrances while maintaining the school’s welcoming environment.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

In response to legislative proposals last February, we started to gather information that would be necessary to respond and protect our high achieving schools. The Amity District is consistently ranked in the top ten in Connecticut, and we won’t take any action to jeopardize that.

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

I am the current ABOE Board Chair and have been on the Amity Board for eight years. I have also served on my Church vestry, co-chaired Making Science Make Sense - a corporate educational outreach program, participated in Race Brook’s Dad’s Club, and served as a Paugusset Club Board member.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Always keep an open mind - make sure that you are really listening to achieve the best outcome!

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I will continue to support Amity School’s excellence, remaining attentive to student needs and our shared community priorities. Whether in the classroom, on the athletic field, or on the main stage, students of our three towns deserve exceptional educational and extracurricular opportunities to promote their success at Amity and beyond.