MONROE, CT —On the heels of First Selectman Ken Kellogg’s announcement that he will not seek another term, the first candidate has emerged in the race to succeed him.
Jerry Stevens, a lifelong Monroe resident and seven year member of the Board of Education, announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for Monroe first selectman.
“My campaign will be about keeping our town affordable, making Monroe business-friendly and increasing the commercial tax base while providing the best education experience possible for the next generation of leaders,” Stevens said Thursday.
“I am thrilled to be running for first selectman of my hometown,” he said. “Throughout my teaching career and volunteer service, I have seen first-hand the incredible town that Monroe is. It would be an honor to lead it into the future.”
While growing up in Monroe, Stevens attended Monroe Elementary, Chalk Hill Middle and Masuk High schools. After earning his degree in Industrial Arts Education from Central Connecticut State University, he returned to his hometown as a teacher.
While teaching at Jockey Hollow Middle School in 2002, he earned recognition for running the Connecticut Technology Education Program of the Year. Stevens was also honored as Monroe Teacher of the Year in 2006 and as the Connecticut Technology Education Teacher of the Year in 2007.
Stevens said he is a proud former teacher of Monroe’s public schools, adding he is grateful to have had the opportunity to touch the lives of generations of students over this 34-year-career.
He is married to his high school sweetheart, Kathy, and the couple raised two grown children, Amanda and Jared, both of whom graduated from Monroe’s public schools.
Aside from teaching, Stevens has served as a volunteer in the community, coaching AYSO soccer, travel soccer and Little League; serving as AYSO commissioner; and coaching various sports at Masuk High School, including varsity soccer, junior varsity soccer and colorguard.
In addition to his community involvement, Stevens has served the town as a member of the Economic Development Commission and is currently in his seventh year on the Board of Education.
For the past decade, Stevens has owned and operated Stevens Resources LLC, a Monroe small business specializing in furniture restoration and woodworking projects.
Stevens’ family has a long history of community and business involvement, as well as political service in Monroe. Both of his grandparents were elected officials in Monroe. His mother was a school bus driver and his father was a lifelong volunteer Monroe fireman.
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