2025 Patch Candidate Profiles: Sarah Jones, Manchester Board Of Directors

MANCHESTER, CT — Sarah Jones is running for a Board of Directors seat in Manchester.

Candidate's Name:
Sarah L. Jones

What office are you seeking?
Board of Directors

What town do you live in?
Manchester

Campaign Website
https://www.manchesterctdems.i...

Party Affiliation:
Democrat

Occupation:
Education Consultant (11 years with 2 agencies)

Family:
I live with my fiancé, Chris, and our adorable corgi, Posey Marie.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
N/A

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
I am currently serving on the Board of Directors having joined the Board in 2015, and previously served on the Recreation Commission.

Why are you seeking this office?
Serving as a member of the Board has been an honor because it has allowed me to give back to the community.
I hope to continue to serve so we can keep pushing additional projects that will benefit our residents forward, together.

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 cost of living. I hope to continue our careful budgeting process. Our caucus balances judicious budgeting that continues to provide essential services while managing tax increases based on the community’s ability to pay.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I think the differences between myself and other members of my caucus are the varying strengths we bring to the debate and discussion. We don’t all share the same perspective so it is important to be able to share those experiences so we arrive at decisions that make life better for our residents.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
One issue that appears to be more and more of a concern is the volatility in federal funding. If the residents are left to make up the difference for projects and staffing that had previously been authorized and then rescinded, it will be something we will have to address with care and concern for those among us who will be most impacted.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
Having served since 2015 I have a strong track record of sound budgeting, in addition, I served during the pandemic response, worked on selecting a new town manager, and the renovation of the schools and the construction of the new library and parks. All of these things have been made possible by a demand for consistent resident engagement which has been one of my clear priorities, and one that I share with fellow board members.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
The best advice I’ve ever gotten is that you can only truly hate 5 people in your whole life, so think closely about whether that person is someone you want to use a hate on. It has allowed me to think about where I place my energy and whether someone is worth that level of disregard. I can say that as of now, none!

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
For many, the current state of democracy in our country is cause for concern. That feeling is true for me, but where I don’t worry about democracy is in Manchester. We currently have a fantastic town government staffed by incredibly talented and kind people and it is a privilege to be associated with the work in our community. We will do all we can to keep the light on for democracy here and continue to be a leader in our region and state.