Patch Candidate Profile: Carl Rizzo, Shelton Board Of Education

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

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

Republican Carl Rizzo is a Shelton resident running for the Board of Education.

Education

BS, Information Technology, University of Phoenix.

What is your occupation?

Supervisor, National Technical Support, Fujifilm Healthcare.

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

My wife and I have two children who attended Shelton schools and are now married. We have three grandchildren, two of which attend Shelton schools.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

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

Yes. Board of Education, November, 2019 to the present.

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 enjoy serving the community that I live in and hope I can help provide the best education to all students in the Shelton school system.

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

There are several and the first is our budget process. Most pressing is our rising healthcare and special education costs and our inability to control these costs. We are self-insured for healthcare through a company that is not chosen by the Board of Education. Healthcare costs are determined by how many claims are made by our staff which is highly unpredictable. For the time being, the best thing we can do is to report these issues to the Board of Aldermen in a timely and accurate manner and collaborate with them to resolve how to cover excess costs.

The second area of concern is that Special Education costs are mostly state mandated and solely determined by the needs of our students. A new Special Education director has been hired who has already had a positive impact on how we are delivering these services, which is encouraging. Going forward we will need the Board of Aldermen to commit to covering excessive healthcare costs. This will allow us to appropriate the rest of our funds in an appropriate manner and excessive health care costs will not have a negative impact on the education and services we are trying to provide students.

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

I believe I am one of the few candidates with a technical background. Having a Board with diverse experiences means we all bring something valuable to the table, which is a good thing. I also have served as a volunteer coach for different sports, as Vice President of Shelton National Little League for about 20 years, and am the current president of “Siege”, the Shelton baseball program which is designed to provide every child the opportunity to reach their fullest potential from Little League years through high school.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

N/A

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

It is the Board of Education’s ongoing mission to provide the safest and best educational experience and environment for students with the resources that we are provided.

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

I have been able to balance the demands and travel required for my work with my home life and acting as a volunteer coach, as vice president of Shelton National Little League for about twenty years, and as the current president of Shelton Travel Baseball.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

It was from Stan Kudej, who was President of Shelton National Little League at the time. It wasn't a specific phrase, but the example he set and the way he chose to live his life was the best advice I could have ever received. Everything Stan did was in the service of his country, city, or for the benefit of the players that played in the many leagues of which he was in charge. While doing all of this he would never expect or allow anything in return. His example has had a profound impact on the way I view serving in my life.

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

Being a member of the Board of Education, while difficult at times, is a rewarding and eye-opening experience. I am truly grateful to the voters and my party that have elected me to this office. I always strive to make the best decision possible as I know my vote will have a real impact on our students, their families and our community.