Name: Justin Orlando
Political Party: Republican
Running for: Board of Education
Education: Went through Monroe public schools K-12 and graduated from UCONN with a BS in Marketing
Work experience: Twenty-two years of corporate work experience ranging from sales and marketing to trade management.
Political experience: Political newcomer
Community experience: Community activities include coaching Monroe’s 3rd grade Lions football team, coaching Monroe’s travel baseball team and coaching Monroe’s DTX 6th grade girls basketball team
Family: Justin Orlando is a Monroe resident of 35 years. He and Georgia, his wife of 16 years and a fellow Monroe native, have three children — all currently enrolled in Monroe public schools
What is an issue affecting the town that you care about most and want to make a priority? How will it guide your decision making?
My entry into politics was not about politics at all. It was a call to action after seeing how public policy not grounded in common sense could negatively impact our school children. So much has been taken away from them and rather than getting upset and complaining, I felt compelled to do something about it.
I am running for Board of Education because I am passionate about ensuring that our children have the most productive and enjoyable learning environment Monroe schools can provide. Monroe’s school children deserve to enjoy Monroe schools as we did growing up all while learning the key fundamentals that will help them live a happy and successful life.
I have been very public about my position on parental choice. I do not believe a governor in Hartford who trots around unmasked at various events and social gatherings should be dictating to Monroe parents what medical care they should provide for their child. Parents know what is best for their children and we cannot allow our rights as parents to be ignored. We live in America where freedom and choice is at the very core of how this country was founded and I will fight for that every day.
We also need to make sure we are providing that learning environment both effectively and efficiently. With education being the bulk of the town’s budget, we owe it to the Monroe taxpayers to ensure we are making every dollar work as hard as possible towards delivering the best educational experience for our kids.
