Cheshire Election 2025: Matt Colehour Running For Board Of Education

CHESHIRE, CT — The 2025 municipal election is heating up in Cheshire with plenty of races on the ballot.

Voters will cast their ballots in the Nov. 4 election for seats on the Town Council, Board of Education, Planning and Zoning Commission and more.

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

Matt Colehour is running for election to the Cheshire Board of Education as a Republican.

Campaign Website
https://www.facebook.com/profi...

Occupation:

Executive Leadership

Family:
I've been married 17 years and we have an 11yr old daughter, 9yr old daughter, and 6yr old son. They are all uber-involved in local sports and activities.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
No

Why are you seeking this office?
I moved to Cheshire in 2012 for the school system before I even had kids. And since having kids, I've been very involved locally with the schools on a number of fronts. I am on the school calendar committee, I ran support CPS to advocate for the new school referendum in 2022, and I have been the treasurer of my elementary school PTA for more than five years. And others.

I'm running for Board of Ed because I think it's important to get more parent perspectives on the board (only 2 of the 7 have kids in CPS) and that we can do a better job finding creative ways to save taxpayer dollars while continuing to invest in Cheshire's greatest asset - our schools.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
Investing responsibly. We cannot continue to just allow line items to naturally creep up and expect our constituents to pay for it. We need to find creative solutions like putting our health insurance out to quote, renegotiating contracts, and reducing the number of buses needed.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I have three kids in CPS and during my term I'll have children at the high school, the middle school, and an elementary school giving me the best parent perspective for how decisions at the Board level impact families and children across all ages. No other current board member or candidate can say that. My track record as an executive leading startups from inception to $500M+ companies proves I have the operational and financial leadership experience to keep our schools strong and our future sustainable.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
Critical thinking and asking the difficult questions rather than sitting quietly and going with the flow. Bringing more parent perspective to the board. The quality of our school meals.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I've been on the executive leadership team of multiple startups that achieve $500M+ valuations. I created and ran a success campaign for the new school referendum swaying voters from a close vote to a 60/40 landslide. I've been involved behind the scenes with our school system for over a decade including the Cheshire Education Foundation, Cheshire School Business Partnership, Doolittle PTA Board, School Calendar Committee, and CPS Partnership Award Recipient. Finally, in 2018 I started a successful world language program that taught foreign languages to young children throughout Cheshire before being forced to shut down by covid.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Life is all about developing relationships.