Verona BOE Hopeful, 20, Among Youngest Candidates In N.J.

VERONA, NJ — Here’s a refreshing political statement that should make Verona’s Connor McCann an underdog favorite in this November’s Board of Education race: “I don’t think I need a lot of money to run a successful campaign.”

“Any money I need comes out of pocket and from donations from close family and friends,” McCann recently told Patch. “I’m trying to run a low-budget campaign.”

But without a massive influx of funding, how does McCann, a local emergency responder and Verona High School alum, expect to get the word out about his candidacy?

“The real emphasis should be face-time with the voters, going door to door and meeting with people in order to listen and learn about the residents’ concerns,” he said.

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The 20-year-old Verona Rescue Squad member also stands out from his competition in another way; McCann says that he is possibly the youngest candidate for political office in this election cycle in the state.

“Though I’m young, I am very interested in politics and feel that it's time for a change in our local government,” he told Patch, adding that he hopes to be a catalyst for giving young people a seat at the political table.

“My hope is that people see what I’m doing and then want to become more involved in the political process,” he emphasized.

Many younger people are already getting involved with community-building efforts on a local level, McCann pointed out.

“The Verona Fire Department and Verona Rescue Squad, where I am a member of, have a large proportion of youth volunteers,” he said.

MCCANN’S IDEAS

Here are some of the ideas that McCann plans to carry out if elected to the Verona Board of Education:

• Increase transparency by making sure the public is educated on the board’s proceedings (“I would utilize my campaign’s social media page, encourage the other members to be more public and do less behind closed doors.”)
• Increase the working relationship between the BOE and Town Council
• Push for joint meetings more often and open lines of communication with town council members to discuss shared issues
• Educate high school students about post-high school options such as college, trade schools and joining the workforce (“There’s an already existing Capstone program with a proven track record that I want to make sure stays afloat.”)
• Ensure board makes fiscally responsible decisions that maximize efficiency in both long and short-term projects

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Photos: Connor McCann