Election 2022: Matthew Fonte, Colts Neck Board of Education

COLTS NECK, NJ — Matthew Fonte is one of six candidates seeking three full-term seats on the Colts Neck Board of Education in the Nov. 8 general election.

In these profiles, based on questions provided, the candidates give voters background about themselves and their positions on the issues. Patch is publishing individual profiles leading up to the election.

Fonte is running on the Colts Kids First slate and says he favors greater community engagement. As a member of the slate, "I stand for promoting parents’ rights and voices, keeping taxes and spending low, and preserving the classroom as a space for traditional academics."

Read more from candidate Matthew Fonte:

Name: Matthew Fonte

Age: 32

Town of residence: Colts Neck

Position sought: Colts Neck Board of Education, full term

Are you an incumbent or have previous school board or civic experience? I am not an incumbent. I have over 10 years of experience in financial services leading teams, managing global projects, and accomplishing goals in dynamic fast paced environments.

Do you have a campaign designation or slate?: Yes, "Colts Kids First"

Campaign website: Colts Kids First on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ColtsKidsFirst/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/coltskidsfirst/ )

Family: Married to my wife, Carolyn with 3 three small kids, Lucy (5), Margaux (3) and Matt (1)

Education: Christian Brothers Academy 2007; College of the Holy Cross 2011, BA Economic Theory and History; Fitchburg State University 2018, MBA

Occupation: Finance

Why do you want to run for the school board and what in your experience or background prepares you for election.

During COVID I witnessed how reluctant schools and school boards were to stand up to the statewide mandates imposed on our kids. For two years I saw the anxiety induced in my then 3-year-old daughter by the overbearing COVID mandates. I saw my daughter coming home with hands which were red and raw from the perpetual hand sanitizer and hand washing being imposed. Today, I still see her talk with a lisp from the speech delays she incurred from not being able to see or hear people speak properly through masks. I am a father and a professional and I am running to stand up for our kids and ensure political panic never again overcomes common sense.

If you are running as part of a slate of candidates, please explain the main positions of the slate if there are agreed upon positions. Please name your slate and its other candidates: "Colts Kids First" with John Camera and Jessica Ramirez. As a member of the Colts Kids First ticket, I stand for promoting parents’ rights and voices, keeping taxes and spending low, and preserving the classroom as a space for traditional academics.

Name what you see as the top issues currently facing your district and how you plan to address them. These can be local issues and/or statewide issues:

• Protecting our kids against the new sex education curriculum by implementing an “opt in” policy for the program
• Enhancing community engagement. Parents should be heard and respected. Open forums and community engagement events would help all parents feel like their thoughts and concerns are addressed and respected by the board that is supposed to represent their and their kids interested
• Lower spending/lower taxes. Focus spending on what schools need not what a select few want or feel would benefit them. At the end of the day we are all taxpayers, and my goal is to keep that tax bill as low as absolutely possible.

What changes or improvements do you see for the district that could enhance educational life and is there a way you might accomplish them:

A fundamental component of education is the ability for students to get together and socialize. We need a board that we can be confident in to stand up against anything that threatens to put our kids out of school and mandate virtual learning. The Colts Kids First ticket will stand up against anything that tries to interfere with a full time in person learning experience.

Candidates for Colts Neck Board of Education:

Full Term - Vote for Three

• Erin Molinaro
• John A. Camera Colts Kids First
• Matthew Fonte Colts Kids First
• Jessica Ramirez Colts Kids First
• Marian Castner Experienced, Transparent, Pragmatic
• Danielle M. Alpaugh