Patch Candidate Profile: Christopher C. Garitee For Danbury Board of Education

DANBURY, 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:
Christopher C. Garitee

What office are you seeking?
Board of Education

What town do you live in?
Danbury, CT

Party Affiliation:
Republican

Occupation:
Attorney, 11 years in practice

Family:
I am married and have a newborn daughter.

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
Zoning Board of Appeals, Tuckahoe, NY

Why are you seeking this office?
I am a small government conservative and I am running for the Board of Education because I believe parents, students, and teachers deserve transparency, accountability, and excellence from our school system. As a father of a future Danbury Public School student, I have a personal stake in making sure our schools are safe, high-performing, and fiscally responsible.

With 11 years of experience as a litigation and immigration attorney and prior service on the Zoning Board of Appeals in Tuckahoe, NY, I understand policy, budgets, and public accountability. I have seen how bureaucracy can get in the way of real progress and adversely impact people’s lives. I want to ensure that more of our resources go directly to classrooms not red tape.

My goal is simple: put students and parents first, support great teachers, and build a school system we can all be proud of.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is the lack of transparency and accountability in how our schools are being run, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Parents deserve to know how decisions are made, how money is spent, and how our children are being educated. Too often, answers are hidden behind bureaucracy, and families are left out of the conversation. I will push for open communication, clear reporting on budgets and outcomes, and meaningful parent involvement in policy decisions.

By cutting through red tape and focusing resources directly in the classroom, on students, teachers, academics, arts, and athletics, we can raise standards, rebuild trust, and deliver the excellent education Danbury families deserve.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I am an attorney with significant experience in complex federal litigation and appeals. I have worked in both the private sector and in government, managing budgets and responding to the needs of real people. Most importantly, I know how to read and draft contracts, ask tough questions, and demand transparency.

What truly sets me apart is that I am not a rubber stamp and I will not vote based on party pressure or political convenience. I have built my career on sorting through dense legal language, identifying the real issues, and making independent, informed decisions.

I will apply that same approach on the Board of Education. Every vote I take will be guided by one question: Is this in the best interest of Danbury students and their families?

In short, I offer legal expertise, public service experience, and a parent’s perspective—with a firm commitment to transparency, accountability, and results.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
In addition to transparency and accountability, I intend to focus on several major issues that directly affect the quality of education in Danbury:

1. Putting Parents and the Community Back at the Center Parents should not be treated as obstacles or kept in the dark. They are the leaders in their children’s education. I will fight for full transparency, honest communication, and real opportunities for parents to influence decisions: not just after the fact, but before policies are made.

2. Academic Excellence and Standards Danbury students deserve rigorous academics, strong fundamentals, and real preparation for college, careers, and life. I will support data-driven strategies to raise performance and close achievement gaps.

3. Safe and Supportive Schools Students learn best when they feel safe physically, emotionally, and socially. I will advocate for effective safety policies, mental health support, and a respectful learning environment for every child.

4. Supporting Teachers and Staff Great schools require great teachers. We must recruit, retain, and respect talented educators, and ensure they have the tools, training, and support to succeed in the classroom.

5. Responsible Budgeting—More to Classrooms, Less to Bureaucracy Danbury spends a lot, but too much never reaches students or teachers. I will fight to streamline bureaucracy, improve efficiency, and make sure taxpayer dollars directly benefit students, arts, athletics, and academic programs.

My goal is simple: deliver excellent education, use our resources wisely, and make Danbury schools a source of pride for the entire community.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
As the Senior Litigation Attorney at a multi-state law firm, I manage the litigation department, oversee complex cases, supervise attorneys and paralegals, and make strategic decisions with real consequences. This role demands leadership, accountability, critical thinking, and the ability to analyze large amounts of information and reach sound conclusions—exactly what is required of a Board of Education member.

In my legal career, I have achieved meaningful results for real people.

- I helped a Holocaust survivor facing foreclosure remain in his home for the rest of his life.

- I have protected at-risk children through the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status program, helping them gain safety and lawful status.

- I have secured six-figure judgments in State and Federal Court, including winning a Federal RICO case.

I also teach legal procedure to young attorneys and staff, which means I know how to break down complicated rules, communicate complex topics in a clear and practical way, and train others to follow best practices. That experience directly translates to developing policy, improving systems, and promoting consistency across a large organization like a school district.

In addition to my legal and government experience, I am also an endurance athlete who has completed five ultra-marathon obstacle course races. These events require discipline, resilience, and the ability to keep going when things get difficult. The same strength and grit are essential for effective public service.

In short: I lead, I teach, I solve complex problems, and I hold institutions accountable. These are the same skills I will bring to the Board of Education.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
The best advice anyone ever gave me was: “Do the right thing, even when no one is watching, and especially when everyone is watching.”

That advice has guided my career as an attorney and leader. In high-stakes situations, it can be tempting to take the easy path or follow the crowd, but real integrity means making the honest, responsible decision even when it’s difficult or unpopular.

In public service, and on the Board of Education, there will be pressure, politics, and competing interests. But if I stay focused on doing what is right for students and families, I will never lose my way.

This advice keeps me grounded, accountable, and independent: and it’s how I intend to lead.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I think it’s important for voters to know what truly shapes my values.

My mother was an immigrant from Italy. My wife is an immigrant from Mexico. I have seen firsthand how education and opportunity can change the course of a family’s life. That experience drives my belief that every child, no matter their background, deserves access to a high-quality education, safe schools, and a system that believes in their potential.

I am also an artist. Creativity has always been a part of who I am, and I believe arts, music, and creative thinking are just as essential as STEM and core academics. Strong schools don’t just produce test scores, they develop well-rounded human beings who can think critically, solve problems, and innovate.

At my core, I am someone who fights for people and demands excellence. I will bring that same energy to the Board of Education to make sure our schools serve every student, support every teacher, and involve every family.

In short: I am shaped by law, public service, parenthood, immigration, athleticism, and the arts and I will use all of it to make Danbury schools stronger.