West Haven Candidate Profile: Guthrie For Board Of Education

WEST HAVEN, CT — The 2019 municipal election is heating up in West Haven and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

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

Robert Guthrie, 53, is running for re-election to the Board of Education as a Republican.

Are you running for office in West Haven? Contact Vinnie Salzo at vincent.salzo@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to West Haven Patch.

Family:

Joanne - wife, James & Patrick - sons and Emily - daughter

Education:

Platt Tech - graduated 1983

Occupation:

911 City of West Haven (34 years)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

Current Board of Education member

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

To continue to advocate for education funding. This comes from both state and city resources.

To work with the 9 elected members of the Board of Education to work together to be the unified voice for our students and school district.

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

Ability to work with others and experience. I am going to work in partnership with my other board of education members.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

We need to develop a long-term capital improvement plan. We need to stop waiting until something becomes an emergency repair-replacement.

Far too often the city has deferred on routine maintenance. Recently, we had a problem with the Bailey cafeteria roof and that has not been a very smooth process to fix.

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

Proud to be part of a board of education that brought back a technology program district wide. It did exist but due to city finances, education funding, it was dropped.

Recently the current board of education along with school administration, developed a technology program. This program should serve to be a blueprint going forward. The board of education developed this plan with little assistance from city government.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Listen to each person and value the input, of position, the offer

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

I care truly about this community and attend many of the events going on in the community.