Shelton Candidate Profile: Kate Kutash For BOE

SHELTON, CT — The 2019 municipal election is heating up in Shelton and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. The top of the ticket race is longtime Mayor Mark Lauretti versus Democratic challenger John Harmon, but there are also many other contested races for Board of Education, Board of Alderman and others.

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

Kate Kutash is seeking a 5th term on the Board of Education as a Democrat. She says she votes in a non-partisan manner. She has been an elementary teacher in the Stratford Public School system for 43 years.

Are you running for office in Shelton? Contact Rich Scinto at rich.scinto@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Shelton Patch.

The single most pressing issue facing our town/district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our city is the relationship between the mayor and the Board of Education. I will continue to make decisions in the best interests of the students and education in Shelton, while continuing to work to convince City Hall that a quality education needs to be a priority in our city. We also need to convince voters that "low taxes" are not what it is all about.

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

The most critical difference is experience. I have 43 years of experience as an educator. In addition to that, I have served four terms on the Shelton BOE. After this election, four of the nine members of the BOE will not be returning, three of whom make up most of our leadership team. I will be the
sole remaining member who has served as an officer of the BOE (Secretary) and as chairman of the Policy Committee. My experience as a member of the Board, as well as my experience as an educator are essential.

In addition, I vote in the best interests of the children and providing them with a quality education.I do not vote a party line and I answer to no one in any party about my decisions. I consider how to do the best we can for the students in our public schools while taking into consideration the limited funding we are given on an annual basis.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

I am a strong supporter of the arts and look for ways to broaden our offerings, particularly to see involvement in our music programs grow.

We have eliminated too many positions and funding for too many things that are essential for helping our school system achieve our goal of being in the top 25% in the state. We need to work to gain adequate funding from city hall to achieve our goals.

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

My accomplishments as a member of the Board of Education are clear evidence I can handle this job. Anyone can examine my attendance record (near perfect), my voting record (in the interest of education and not along party lines), and my frequent attendance at community and school events. They exemplify my dedication to making Shelton Public Schools the best it can be.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

"Honesty is the best Policy"-- my Catholic upbringing means I will always be honest in my actions. I will always attempt to be kind and avoid the mudslinging and bad mouthing so frequent in politics.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I was not nominated by the Democrat Party, but I fought to collect enough signatures to get on the ballot. This is NOT about a commitment to politics for me. This is about a commitment to a quality education for the students of Shelton, maintaining noteworthy programs and maintaining our buildings for future generations of Shelton students. It is about doing the best we can do with the meager dollars we are afforded each year. It is about a field in which I have dedicated a 43 year career. I love doing what I do and wish to continue being a member of the Shelton Board of Education.