Wallingford Election 2023: Rajan Doering 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.

Rajan Doering, 23, is running for re-election to the Wallingford Board of Education as a Republican.

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

https://www.doeringforboard.co...

Education.

Administrative Director and Founder of GLOW Food Ministry, a ministry of The Rock Church. Board Member and Grant Allocator at United Way. Former Board Member and Togetherhood Committee Chairperson at YMCA. Writer for Wallingford Magazine. Jubilee 350 Parade Food Trucks Coordinator. Sheehan Class of 2018. Quinnipiac Class of 2022, double-major in Economics and Public Relations. Current student at Quinnipiac School of Law.

What is your occupation?

Student - Quinnipiac School of Law

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

Unmarried and no kids

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

Yes - I have been on the Board of Education for two years

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 have been serving on the Board of Education for two years, and I have seen us make wonderful progress as a group. I want to continue to serve in this capacity. I have watched as we emerge out of the pandemic, switch bus companies, and develop new partnerships with other towns in our adult education program. I enjoy being involved in numerous school district functions, such as the Parent Teacher Advisory Committee, steering committee for school breakfasts, and union negotiations. I have also remained an active member of the broader Wallingford community, including being the Administrative Director of GLOW Food Ministry, food trucks leader for the Jubilee 350 Parade, board member at the YMCA and United Way, volunteer with Coalition for a Better Wallingford, writer for the Wallingford Magazine, and actor in Wallingford Community Theater.

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

Board candidates being accessible to the public. Every person has different substantive issues that are relevant to them, and I do not wish to generalize the entire town. Some want to know about curriculum. Some want to know about facilities. Some want to know about mental health. Regardless, everyone appreciates candidates who make themselves available. I am at various events in town almost every day and am always happy to talk with people. I also invite people to call or text me at 203-208-8534 at any time or to email me at doeringforboard@gmail.com

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

Everyone brings their own perspective to the table, which makes for very fruitful discussions. I have both the perspective of a student and the perspective of someone involved with nonprofits to serve our high-needs populations. I graduated from Sheehan in 2018 after attending Wallingford Public Schools since preschool, and I am now enrolled in Quinnipiac School of Law. I am the Administrative Director of GLOW Food Ministry, where I interact with and know the needs of dozens of food insecure families in our town.

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

If re-elected I will work tirelessly to maintain utmost transparency and keep positive relationships with parents, staff, community members, and students. I will work to keep us united in a vision to ensure an equitable and inclusive environment for all, care for academic, emotional, and physical well-being of our students, and use our budget and facilities to prepare our students starting with our youngest learners for the future. To do so, we must work hard to support our district’s greatest asset – our teachers and staff – and to maintain a positive school climate that addresses important community matters such as drug prevention and mental health. We must focus on supporting our students who need it most, including special education students, English language learners, and socioeconomically disadvantaged students.

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

I have been in this job for two years, and I think my track record speaks for itself. I have been heavily involved in many aspects of the school district and wider community. As a board, we have come out of the pandemic, switched bus companies, and found new partnerships with other towns for our adult education program. As a board member, I have been on the Parent Teacher Advisory Committee, steering committee for school breakfasts, strategic plan committee, and union negotiations teams. As a member of the town, I am the Administrative Director of GLOW Food Ministry and have served on numerous boards and committees, including with the United Way, YMCA, Coalition for a Better Wallingford, Wallingford Magazine, and Jubilee 350.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

To lead is to serve.

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

I hope voters feel comfortable reaching out to me at any time. My cell is 203-208-8534 and my email is doeringforboard@gmail.com.