Shelton Candidate Profile: Diana Meyer For BOE

SHELTON, CT — The 2019 municipal election is heating up in Shelton and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. The top of the ticket race is longtime Mayor Mark Lauretti versus Democratic challenger John Harmon, but there are also many other contested races for Board of Education, Board of Alderman and others.

Shelton Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Diana Meyer is running for Board of Education as a Democrat. She works in the commercial lending industry, including approving loans on behalf of the Small Business Administration for Connecticut small businesses.

Are you running for office in Shelton? Contact Rich Scinto at rich.scinto@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Shelton Patch.

The single most pressing issue facing our town/district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our town is the adversarial relationship between the Board of Education, the Board of Aldermen, and the Mayor. I intend to endorse the
continuation of the BoE and BoA quarterly meetings. I feel that if the BoA have a better understanding of what goes within the schools they can empathize the challenges our schools are facing. I would welcome the opportunity for members of the BoA attend activities at the school along with the BoE. I plan to volunteer one hour a month in our schools and would welcome any BoA member to join me.

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

We have 15 candidates of which 5 are incumbents. I am not an incumbent but have taken an active role in attending and speaking at many Board of Aldermen meetings the last 2 years. More recently I have attended Board of Education meetings. I, along with fellow candidate Patti Moonan, attended a seminar held by the CT Association of Boards of Education - 'So You Want To Be A Board Member?' If elected I will attend a one day workshop by this group for State of CT new Board of Education members.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

I don't think the current board has failed the community. Given a very tight budget they have been able to continue to maintain a good level of educating and serving the students of this community.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

I would strive to get more money for education that would allow classroom sizes to return to prior levels, eliminate pay for play, upgrade our books and technology, and MANY other much needed resources for our schools. But whatever is allocated for education I will do my best to make sure we get the most we can out of what resources we have. My goal is to work for the
community to help it educate its children. I will not align myself with any group's political agenda.

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

I grew up the daughter of two educators. My brother, two of my sister-in-laws, several extended family members and friends are teachers. I know the struggle is REAL! My financial
background of analyzing financials statements and budgets would help the Board from a financial aspect.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

There are many sides to a story, don't judge until you have heard all sides.

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

I know many Shelton school graduates who are very proud and have gone on to
have much success. I want the children who are going through our school system now to have the same, if not better, opportunity. My daughter is a graduate of the class of the SHS Class of 2019. I fear the children that are starting in the school system now are not going to receive the same quality of education as those who have graduated. The classroom sizes at the elementary schools are growing. It was pointed out this year at a BoA meeting that history books at SHS are so old they don't include 9/11. These trends trouble me and I want them to change.