Orange Candidate Profile: Polly L. Demirjian 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.

Polly L. Demirjian, 58, is an attorney and a Democrat running for the Amity Board of Education. She has been an attorney for more than 30 years and specializes in workers' compensation defense.

While she has not held elected office before, her family is no strangers to careers in the public sector. Her husband, Jonathan, is a public defender for the State of Connecticut, and her son, Jack, works in the Zoning Enforcement and Inland/Wetlands Office in Orange. She also has two other children; all three are in their 20s.

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

Potential regionalization/making Amity a K-12 system. Before the state makes the decision for us, I support a full study exploring the feasibility and implications of creating a K-12 Amity system and sharing services with Bethany and Woodbridge. I believe that a K-12 system insures that all of our elementary school students are using the same curriculum and same teaching practices so there is no longer the vast difference in preparedness when students arrive from the three BOW towns to the middle and high schools. Our goal should be the success of all students.

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

It is my understanding that the opposing party leadership does not favor the concept of regionalization through a K-12 system.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

To continue the great diversity and tolerance education programs already in place at Amity High School, and to make sure all students, not just the "level one" students, are being noticed.

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

Multiple-year president of Amity High School PTSA and Peck Place School PTA. Practicing attorney with excellent analytical and organizational skills. Mother of 3 successful Amity graduates.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Be nice. It's my mantra. I honestly believe it is the bedrock of life. And- It's easier than being mean.

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

I am committed to the Town of Orange and the great Amity school system which helped my three children grow into smart, self-reliant adults. I want to help continue that tradition.