Patch Candidate Profile: Meghan Doyle, Milford Board of Education

MILFORD, CT - - As the 2023 municipal elections get closer in Milford, there are plenty of races with candidates who are eager to serve in elected office.

Milford Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will publish candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Meghan Doyle, 39, is running for a seat on the Board of Education in Milford to represent the 2nd District as a Democratic candidate.

Doyle holds a B.S. in Biology from Northeastern University, a Master's in Food and Agriculture Law and Policy from Vermont Law and Graduate School and a Juris Doctor from Quinnipiac University School of Law. He is currently working as an alumni recruiter from Quinnipiac’s School of Law.

Doyle’s family includes her parents, siblings, nieces and nephews who live in Milford.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Yes, appointed to the Milford BOE in July 2021 and elected to the position in November 2021.

Why are you seeking this office?

Since July 2021, I have served on the Milford Board of Education, and I genuinely enjoy serving the community. I believe it is important for the BOE to represent a variety of opinions and experiences because as a board member, I serve every person in the 2nd District. I am responsible for balancing the needs of those that directly interact with the school system and those that do not. As BOE budget represents a significant portion of the City’s annual spending, every constituent has a stake in how tax dollars are spent.

I want to continue advocating for a progressive school system that prepares students for long-term success, protecting the interests of our faculty and staff while continuing to be fiscally responsible.

Please complete this statement: 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 rising costs. I intend to continue ask difficult questions of the administration. The administration presents the budget every year, and each FTE and expenditure needs to be explained. Like all members of the community, the District faces fixed rising costs –electricity, water, health insurance, bus fuel, etc.—and without careful planning and deliberate discussions, those increased costs that must be paid can come at the sacrifice of progress. It is important that every month, the BOE reviews every expenditure over $1500 so as Board and a community, we can see where the money is spent and efficiencies can be created.

I will also continue to encourage the administration to seek all available grants such as federal grants for electric bus conversion and state grants for air conditioning and ventilation projects.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have experience on the Board of Education. Any person can watch our Board meetings and see my opinions on difficult and hard conversations on sensitive topics, like budget decisions and student success. There is a large learning curve to understand the intricacies of a school system that educates thousands of students and employees hundreds of employees.

That experience serves me well when the administration presents the upcoming budget, a state mandate on the right to read, or suggested school security measures.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

The belief that myself or any other candidate is focused on an agenda. I want every single student to have success in our district regardless of their socioeconomic status, religion, political affiliation, race, or gender. And that success requires planning for the future and asking repeatedly, how can we do better to prepare students for the world, what we did well, and what can we change. It also requires robust communication between students, parents, faculty, staff, the administration, city officials, and the BOE.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I simultaneously completed law and graduated school while serving the last two and a half years on the BOE. During that time, I continued to run my own business and lead several organizations, including being named a Next Generation Leader by the American Constitution Society. Despite my many commitments, I arrived prepared and ready to serve my constituents to each meeting.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

That half of life is just showing up. And showing up can be to an event, for a friend/family member, or a text message. There are many instances in life that it would be easier to skip, to make an excuse, or conveniently forget about an obligation. People remember those that show up, take the call, and generally try. Be remembered for showing up for people rather for the opposite.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I do not have children in the school system, but I am the proud aunt to 5 nieces and nephews that went and still go to Milford Public Schools. You will frequently find me spectating at the softball and baseball field, and Friday nights at the football games. I may not have my own children in the school system, but as a resident of this community, I am stake holder in the success of the district and our greater Milford community.

Like many in our community, I left Milford but knew I wanted to make the small city with a big heart my home. I want our community to prosper and succeed.

To me that requires planning and investing for the future while being cognizant of the realities of the financial climate. To me that requires preparing all students with the ability to read and write but also the ability to adapt to the demands a rapidly changing world. To me that requires providing higher level course work for students that want to attend a post-secondary institute while addressing the needs of students that want to enter the work force or the armed services following graduation. To me that requires fostering an environment in our schools and community that encourages all students to experiment, visit new places, interact with a diverse group of people, and become lifelong learners.

And for one day, for those same students to return Milford and build businesses, raise families, and be part of our community to continue the small city with a big heart.

Does your campaign have a website?

https://milfordctdems.com/