MANCHESTER – Election night wasn’t good for the incumbents in the local Board of Education race. Four candidates sought two, three-year terms.
Incumbents Gayle Mount (the board president) and Fay Weinstein ran on the slogan of “Excellence and Equity” while challengers Brian Guzman and Justine Beltran ran on the slogan “Manchester Kids First.”
Guzman was the top vote earner with 8,737 votes while Beltran received 7,942 votes defeating Mount who received 4,683 votes and Weinstein who brought in 3,157.
Having served as a law enforcement officer for the past 17 years, Guzman told The Manchester Times that “I have a commitment to public service, and to create a safer community for the children in our town.”
“One of the bigger issues our schools in Manchester face is the budget. We have to allocate more resources for staffing. We are seeing a shift in demographics for our students in classrooms. Equal education for all is needed so no children are left behind,” he added.
Guzman noted that “prioritizing our budget is always a challenge but it needs to be made with the best interest for every Manchester student. There needs to be more focus on the overall mental health of students who are enrolled in each school and at every grade level.”
“As a board of education member, I want to serve as an elected voice for this community. Having experience in public service for many years I want to utilize my voice to encourage others to work together for the betterment of the children of Manchester,” Guzman added.
Beltran is a nurse and she told The Manchester Times that her first priority “is always health and safety. On the Board of Education, I will bring that same focus to our children – making sure they learn in safe, supportive, and healthy schools. Every decision I make will be guided by one goal: protecting and helping our kids succeed.”
She added, “I feel our schools in Manchester’s biggest issues are tight budgets. I believe we can better utilize resources that we have. I feel I can assist in ensuring that our resources are used wisely, and that families feel heard and respected.”
“I feel Manchester’s common challenges are slipping test scores, rising special education costs, and the need for safer, healthier environments for our children,” Beltran added.
Mount had served two terms on the Board while Weinstein won her first term three years ago as a write-in candidate. Mount told The Manchester Times after the election, “I am sad that Fay and I lost. I love serving our community. I am thankful for the last six years that I got to do so.”
She wished Guzman and Beltran “the best as they serve our Manchester Community and I look forward to seeing what they do to move our district forward. Thank you to all of those who voted for me; I appreciate your support.”
