Darien Board of Education 2020
Letter to the Editor Pilgrim

Mike Burke and Sara Parent Have Experience and Ability You Can Trust on the Board of Ed

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To the editor:

Many of you know me for my decades working in the Darien schools. Schools are strongest when everyone works together. As a current Board member, Mike Burke provides historic board and parental perspectives. Darien needs Mike for his continued steady and wise council. As a parent, former president of the CDSP and Chair of the Holmes School PTO, Sara Parent has been actively engaged in the Board of Education for years.

Board of Education 2020
Letter to the Editor Thomas Jefferson

Darien Democratic Chairman: Two Dem Candidates for Board of Ed Have Extensive Experience

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To the editor:

Until the COVID-19 pandemic has ended, Darien’s school system will face unprecedented challenges. Teachers, administrators and Board of Education members will not only need to immerse themselves in cutting-edge education techniques, but they will need to develop expertise in public health. Mike Burke and Sara Parent are the obvious choices in November to master those dual tasks. Mike’s years of being the “policy wonk” on the Board give him the breadth of experience needed to provide thought leadership on these critical issues. Sara’s graduate degree in teaching and experience as both a teacher and active Darien school parent will allow her to lead board discussions from a perspective steeped in practical experience.

Government & Politics
Democrats Slate 2017

Democrats Pick Selectman Rob Richards to Contest First Selectman Office with Incumbent Jayme Stevenson

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Selectman Rob Richards was chosen by Democrats on Wednesday as their candidate for First Selectman, opposing incumbent Republican Jayme Stevenson. “My ability to solve problems and smile often has brought our community together and put to bed many longstanding issues,” Richards said in his acceptance speech to the town Democratic Caucus. Richards said he worked with both sides in two of the most contentious community disputes in the past couple of years: The conflict over bringing lights for night games at Darien High School and the battle over whether to have paramedics based in town full-time. In both cases, Richards said he sought out people from both sides, listened to their concerns and worked to promote a compromise or a settlement. “Rob is a listener, a thinker and problem solver,” said Democratic Town Chairman David Bayne in nominating Richards for the job.