Patch Candidate Profile: Alison Squiccimarro, Trumbull Board of Ed

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

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

Republican Alison Squiccimarro, 48, is a Trumbull resident running for the Board of Education.

Education

Juris Doctorate - Pace University School of Law; Bachelor's in Political Science and Sociology from The State University of New York at Oneonta.

What is your occupation?

Attorney - 23 years.

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

Frank (Spouse), Alexis (Daughter, Tashua 5th Grade).

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

None.

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

Trumbull Board of Education since 2021.

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?

Our schools are vital to our community and property values. This is particularly important to me because my family moved here in 2014 because of the sense of community but also because of the reputation of our schools. It is a balance of maintaining our strong schools while recognizing that the School Board Budget is the largest driver of our Town Budget. We need to be mindful of that and run our schools as efficiently as we can while still maintaining the quality of education that draws residents to Trumbull.

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

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is taxes, and I intend to make sure our Board of Education uses every dollar wisely and efficiently so that our students get the education that they expected when their families made the decision to live in Trumbull. This cannot be done without considering the fact that we do not want constant tax increases to force residents to consider relocation out of our community.

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

I am the only lawyer running for the Board of Education. As a lawyer, I bring a different perspective to decision making. I am a skilled negotiator who has experience negotiating with the collective bargaining units and stakeholders. I am well versed in setting aside my personal views, listening to others, consensus building and making decisions for the benefit of the community. My experience allows me to manage and mitigate reliance on outside counsel because I am able to assess when their assistance is needed and most valuable and manage that efficiently.

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

Educating the community on the importance of the Master Plan that the Board of Education unanimously adopted as the process of implementation moves forward in our community. If we don't invest in the infrastructure it will cost us significantly in piecemeal repairs done on an emergency basis which not only results in excessive costs but will hamper the ability of our teachers to educate and our students in receiving the education they deserve.

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

(1) I was a vital member of the negotiating team that negotiated the TEA and TAA contracts; (2) I was an active participant in the Policy Committee where my legal skills allow me to read and interpret statutes, confirm our policy is consistent with the law and ask informed questions of our counsel to make sure that we are implementing the requirements in the most pragmatic way; and (3) I am a constant supporter of our schools.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My father always taught me to treat others with kindness and respect and to help others because we never know when we might need help. That has served me well in life.

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

My family and I moved here in 2013 because we loved the community and all it had to offer, our home and taxes were within our means, and we could feel good about sending our daughter to public school. As we say in our house "Trumbull wasn't our hometown, but it is our daughters."