LTE: Vote for Christine Vitale on February 3rd: She is the Right Leader for Fairfield

To the Editor:

I was appointed to Fairfield's Board of Education in November 2020, at the height of the pandemic. During that extraordinarily challenging time, many things around the world paused, but we didn't have that luxury in our schools. With over 9,000 students depending on us for education and safety, the job of the Board of Education—especially for Christine Vitale as Chair—was challenging beyond comparison. Christine not only rose to these challenges but also served as a mentor as I transitioned onto the Board and into budget season. It became immediately clear how involved Christine was in the nuances of the budget process and how astutely she navigated town bodies in advocating for our schools.

I first met Christine when my children were in elementary school. She was a leader of Fairfield's PTA Council (PTAC), providing mentorship for newcomers like myself. Years later, we crossed paths again when I was managing Fairfield Arts for Youth (FAY). Through this role, I discovered Christine is not only a champion for education but also a strong advocate for the arts. As Chair of the Board of Education, she showed up to performances and ensured the District continued to support FAY's high-quality programming, which reached over 4,000 students annually. I remain grateful to Christine for uplifting the arts through her support of the newly formed Fairfield Arts Commission. In June 2025, under her tenure as Selectman, we achieved statewide recognition of a cultural district in Fairfield.

When First Selectman Bill Gerber tragically passed away last July, the profound sadness and collective grief across our Town seemed unbearable. Christine and Bill were inextricably linked in their campaign slogan "Better Together," and if there was any relief to this nightmare, it was that Christine stepped up without missing a beat. Bill's shoes were huge to fill, but she stepped into them with grace, honesty, intelligence, compassion, and decorum. Christine has provided exactly what our community needed to heal, and she continues to lead with strength and fortitude.

As Chair of the Board of Education, Christine shepherded the education budget—over 65% of the Town's overall budget—through the approval process. She worked with town bodies and the Superintendent to leverage pandemic savings to deliver a zero percent tax increase for the 2020-2021 fiscal year and secure funding to purchase a site for the district's alternative high school. She consistently advocated for increased investments in our schools and secured funding for districtwide HVAC improvements. Christine is a proven champion for education.

Christine's ability to listen and respect the quietest voices in the room shows her true character. She cares about the diverse needs of Fairfielders and continues to show leadership that is thoughtful, responsive, visionary, and skilled. I hope you will join me in voting for Christine Vitale for Fairfield First Selectman on February 3, 2026.

Carol Guernsey