Patch Candidate Profile: Harlan Fichtenholtz For Branford Board of Education

BRANFORD, CT — Election Day on Nov. 4 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot.

Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing their towns.

Candidate's Name:
Harlan Fichtenholtz

What office are you seeking?
Board of Education

What town do you live in?
Branford

Party Affiliation:
Democratic

Occupation:
Professor of Psychology

Family:
I am married with 3 children, 2 boys and 1 girl.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
My wife works for the school system

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
For the past 10 years I have served on the Stony Creek Association Executive Board

Why are you seeking this office?
I am seeking a seat on the Board of Ed to serve my community in the best way that I can. I believe that my skills, expertise and experience are currently underrepresented on the Board of Ed.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
I think there are 2 issues Branford parents are concerned with right now. The first is the cell phone policy. For this I think we need to see how the first year goes and make tweaks as needed.

The other issue of concern right now for parents it bullying. The new policies mandated from the state are being applied and they have changed things from the past. In addition to what happens when there is an incident of bullying, we will need to look at ways to encourage prosocial interactions between students to keep reducing incidents of bullying.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
The differences between the candidates come down to experience and expertise. Working in higher education, being a data scientist, and having children in the school system I believe I have a unique perspective compared to the other candidates.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
I would like to see an increase in course options in grades 7-10.