Patch Candidate Profile: Bob Gerbert, Trumbull Board Of Education

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 Bob Gerbert, 40, is a Trumbull resident running for the Board of Education.

Education

Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering.

What is your occupation?

Executive Director, Program Management at University of New Haven.

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

Married, Wife-Michelle 14 Yrs; Two children, twin boys, Jack and Jake 9 Yrs old.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

N/a

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

N/a

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?

As a father of children in Trumbull, I am looking make sure that our school education remains strong and is funded properly. I feel that our Board of Education should have members of diverse occupational backgrounds, and additionally, have children in the school district. Trumbull is embarking on a large capital endeavor to address long overdue facilities issues and my background and education lean into this field.

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

Learning loss from Covid. Covid greatly impacting our children, especially those in elementary school grades. Connecticut provided funds to help during the pandemic, but those funds have since dried up and shifted the burden to local governments. I want to ensure that our children are getting the attention and help they need to be successful in the classroom.

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

Unlike most incumbents and candidates, I am not a teacher nor school administrator. I am an engineer who believes in sound fundamentals through analyzing problems. Further, I have two children attending our schools and have a vested interested to make sure we are providing the best education that we can for Trumbull students.

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

Being an engineer and facilities professional, I have knowledge and experience on how to build and maintain schools. Considering that Trumbull is on the verge of spending $200M+, I can fill a void of making sure our money is spent appropriately.

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

Besides learning loss, I want to work closely with Trumbull's facilities department to make sure that we are properly funding our maintenance department to see that repairs are being addressed and that all students have a safe and comfortable building to learn in daily.

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

I previously served as the Newtown facilities director and have first hand experience of managing operations and maintenance of a school district that is similar in size to Trumbull. I am familiar with state grant programs to help fund school construction projects.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

N/a

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

I am passionate about making sure that my children have the best education that they can get in our public schools. By doing this, I can voice the concerns of other families to be certain that we are doing our very best to provide a quality education to all students.