2020 Milford Election Profile: Brendan Rickert For School Board

MILFORD, MA — Four people are running for Milford School Committee in the spring 2020 Milford town election. One of those candidates is Brendan Rickert, 31, a former college professor.

Two School Committee seats are up for election in 2020. Members Joseph Callery is not running to keep his seat on the board, but Committee Chair Jennifer Parson is. Challengers Michael Aghajanian and Frederick Steinmann are also running for seats.

As with each election, Patch has sent candidates running for the School Committee and Board of Selectmen a candidate questionnaire. Here's what Rickert told us about why he's running this spring.

Family: Julianne Rickert (Wife), 29. Mozzarella Rickert (Dog), 1
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? Yes, brother is a middle school principal in Trumbull, Conn.
Education: Bachelors in Exercise Science (2010), Masters in Exercise Science and Nutrition (2012), MBA (2016)- all from Sacred Heart University, Fairfield CT.
Occupation: US Sales Manager- 1 year in this role. Former Professor at Sacred Heart University 2012-2017, Former Head Cross Country Coach at Fairfield University 2014-2017, Former Head Cross Country, Assistant Track Coach at Weston High School- 2012-2014
Campaign website: https://rickertformilford.com/

Why are you seeking elective office?

I come from a family of public servants and I was brought up with the mindset to give back to the community. I believe education is everything and I want to be part of the process of preparing our children for the rapidly changing future.

The single most pressing issue facing Milford schools is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Our responsibility is growing but not at the same rate as our budget. We need to continue to lobby the state as well as take advantage of all local, state, and federal grants to ensure our students have equal access to a great education.

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

First, I think we all want to do the right thing and I personally feel it shows how important the school committee is to have this big of a field for the seats available. If elected, I promise to be unbiased to every decision that needs to be made, transparent about my thoughts and decisions, and to make sure every voice is heard. I want to bring more residents into the process to increase engagement and discussion. The next 5 years are going to be critical to the direction of our school system, and I am ready to put my passion for education into the process to secure the necessary resources for the future generations of Milford.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

The four cornerstones to a quality education are Safety, Access, Community, and Vision. I plan to work between other departments in town to further the resources we provide to our students. Additionally, I want to include more parents/guardians and students into the process.

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

As someone who held two full time university jobs while going back to school for my second masters degree, I have shown that when I have a passion for something I will put my full self into it to get the job done. School Committee is a serious position and requires an extraordinary commitment and I will be the person who is willing to go above and beyond to get the hard decisions correct.

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

I love community engagement and would encourage everyone to go vote. Local elections matter and I hope to meet as many of you as possible.