Wallingford Election 2025: Kristi Doerr Running For Board Of Education

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

Voters will cast their ballots in the Nov. 4 election for the position of mayor, along with seats on the Town Council and Board of Education.

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

Kristi Doerr is running for election to the Wallingford Board of Education as a Democrat.

Campaign Website
https://www.voteblue06492.com

Occupation:

I've been a CPA specializing in corporate taxation for over 20 years.

Family:
My husband Brian and I just celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary. We have a son, Samuel, who is in fifth grade. He loves hockey and is an avid readier. We have two pugs named Beavis and Rafi.

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'm running for my son and all the children of Wallingford. My son started kindergarten in 2020. He was in a virtual class, working on an ipad at a small desk right next to me. As he transitioned back to a live classroom, he faced new challenges. Over the last two years, we've gone through the PPT and IEP process with the Wallingford Public Schools. It's been eye opening to say the least! I spent many hours at the school and in my son's classroom seeing the challenges our children and educators are facing on a daily basis. Approximately 20% of our WPS students are in special education. Our schools are struggling to meet our children's ever evolving needs. As a parent who has been through it, I will bring a parent's perspective to the Board.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
Our school infrastructure. Our school system is the backbone of our town. Two years ago, the Board of Education voted to consolidate the high school. Since then, they have moved forward to develop plans for the one high school but still have not secured a property or been approved for funding by the Town Council. Meanwhile, our schools continue to go into disrepair. I hear complaints from parents all the time about the state of our schools. We've spent unnecessary tax dollars to rent boilers at Lyman when we didn't fix/replace the existing ones in time. We need to solidify a town wide plan for all the schools and start moving forward.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I'm a mother of a Wallingford Public School student. My son has been attending WPS since 2020. Earlier this year he was outplaced when it was determined the school could not meet his needs. I have first-hand experience being in the schools and working with them. I'm also not a career educator. As an accountant, I take financial decisions very seriously and I'm capable of reviewing budgets and questioning things when they don't add up.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
Our schools have been underfunded by the town for over the last decade (receiving less than requested for their annual budget). As a result, I see class sizes growing and resources shrinking. The cuts made have directly impacted our classrooms. We cannot expect our students to thrive without an adequate learning environment.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I'm a lifelong volunteer. I understand the commitment needed for the Board of Education. Most recently, I've volunteered as a member of the Wallingford Public Library Board of Managers. I've been a member for five years and the Treasurer for the last three years. I've volunteered my time and talents to this organization to help it thrive. I'm proud of the work I've done there and know I can lend my talents to the Board of Education as well.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Great leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about knowing yourself well enough to ask the right questions and build the right team to answer them.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I love Wallingford and I'm grateful for the opportunity to run for the Board of Education. I'm committed to serving this community to the best of my abilities and appreciate your support.