Wallingford Election 2023: Caroline Raynis Running For Board Of Ed

WALLINGFORD, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Wallingford with plenty of races on the ballot.

Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 7 and cast their ballots for the position of mayor, along with seats on the Town Council and Board of Education.

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

Caroline Raynis, 34, is running for election to the Wallingford Board of Education as a Republican.

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

Find me on Facebook or Instagram: Caroline Raynis for BOE and @CarolineRaynisForBOE

Education.

B.A. in Communications, emphasis in Public Relations and Promotions, double-minor in Journalism and Criminal Justice, from CCSU; M.B.A. with a concentration in Marketing, from SCSU; and J.D. from Quinnipiac University

What is your occupation?

I am a wife, mom, volunteer, homemaker, and active citizen.

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

My husband Allan V. Raynis, Jr. and I have been married for over 10 years. He is a retired municipal police officer and a Gulf War veteran, currently working at Quinnipiac University, as an armed public safety officer. I have three children, Lila (13), Lara (9), and Little Al (6), and two older step-kids. We also have rescue cats and an adorable dog.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My mother served the judicial branch as a J.D. clerk, where she was the ADA compliance point-person. My father served the executive branch as a Principal Appeals Referee for the CT DOL, where he was well-known for his mastery of the law and reversal of bad decisions, and for his service as vice-president of Local 269 for many years. I always tell people that my parents are outstanding, ethical lawyers, who were raised by teachers. My grandfather also worked for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, where he was an engineer, in the World Trade Center.

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

I do not hold a public office, but I am currently serving an appointment as an alternate for the Wallingford Inlands, Wetlands, and Watercourse Commission.

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 am a firm believer of the adage that if you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem. With my eldest daughter entering high school next year, I am very interested in the pressing concerns of our town about the high school merger. Further, I think that infrastructure, student safety, and student performance can be further optimized. I would like to utilize my vast background and experience to keep Wallingford schools great! My viewpoint is people before politics and laissez-faire economics/government.

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

The most pressing issue is the merger of Sheehan and Lyman Hall High Schools. I intend to facilitate transparency, listen to the public and my constituents, and vote for what is in the best interest of our students.

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

I think that the major differences between myself and the other candidates are my educational background and my professional experience. Holding degrees in multiple disciplines will help me to best analyze any situation or issue that may arise. My professional experience, particularly with the Department of Labor, afforded me the opportunity to work in Career Services; assist in Business Services; facilitate audits; work in the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Unit, helping employers who hired veterans and the long-term unemployed attain business tax credits; and be very active in my union. In working for the Department of Labor, during the Great Recession, my life was forever impacted, as I assisted those who were laid-off. This included assisting workers from New York corporate CEOs to McDonald's drive-through minimum wage employees in filing for benefits, during this crucial time of financial crisis, and assisting them in attaining gainful re-employment. While working at DOL, I participated in Project Homeless Connect, and facilitated a special Career Fair for those who were homeless. In meeting so many people, from so many walks-of-life, I gained great experience in listening, assessing, and successfully performing my job duties. I truly vested in the local community where I worked, and still serve on committees and boards for those local organizations, to this day.

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

I'd rather focus my energy and time on addressing solutions and the future, rather than exploiting failures by others.

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

The most recent accomplishment that comes to mind is completing law school, during the pandemic, while needing to homeschool my children for a year-and-a-half. I returned to school as an older learner, who never was required to use a computer in a classroom. I had to fully utilize technology to complete a doctorate program, completely virtually. Though a virtual learner, I was able to successfully and actively participate in the Negotiations Clinic and the Civil Justice Clinic. I learned that time management, patience, and kindness can make anything possible.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The best political advice that I have received, thus far, came from a fellow Wallingford citizen, Ed Bradley, who said to "always vote your conscience." The best life advice: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you make them feel." -Maya Angelou; "Pray, hope, and don't worry." -Padre Pio

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

If I am elected, I will work hard for Wallingford. I will listen to all view-points. I will do whatever it takes to ensure that the best interests of our children are always put first.