Orange Candidate Profile: John C. Belfonti 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.

John C. Belfonti, 47, is a Republican who is seeking re-election to the Amity Board of Education. He is the President of Environmental Engineering, Inc. where he has worked for 22 years. He also holds a Professional Engineer license.

His wife, Sharon, is a graduate of Amity High School, and they three children — Vera (17) a senior at Amity H.S.; Jack (15) a sophomore at Amity H.S.; and Maya (11) a 6th grader at Race Brook School.

In addition to being a current member of the Amity Board of Education, Belfonti also is the current Chairman of the Amity Finance Committee and past member of the Orange Inlands & Wetlands Commission.

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

The continued reduction of state financial support for our towns results in the need for the Amity BOE to find more ways to reduce operating costs while continually improving the education to keep Amity a top school district in the state.

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

I will continue to work to deliver the best possible outcomes for our students while being mindful of our taxpayers.

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

I feel that with my knowledge in construction and finance, I am in the unique position of being a value to the board and our citizens when it comes to maintenance and construction of the Amity facilities as well as being able to effectively chair the Amity Finance Committee.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Don't put off until tomorrow what you can accomplish today - from my father

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

I have a vested interest in being a member on the Amity BOE having three children who are students in the district as well as being a proud Amity graduate.