MONROE, CT — Marie Blake, a retired English teacher who lived most of her life in Monroe, decided to campaign for a seat on the Board of Education this municipal election, before garnering enough signatures on a petition to make an independent run.
Her candidacy will make the race competitive, because prior to that four Republicans and one Democrat were vying for five seats, so all of them would have won regardless of the outcome of the election on Nov. 4. Now with one seat contested, voters will have a choice.
“I will be on the bottom of the ballot as an unaffiliated candidate,” Blake said during an interview at Starbucks Tuesday afternoon. “I’m really excited and, even if I lose the election, I’ve already won a small victory by giving people a choice.”
Her two slogans are: “Marie Blake, Bottom of the Ballot” and “Marie Blake, Your Choice, Your Voice.”
Blake grew up in Monroe, graduating from Masuk High School in 1981. She and her husband, Ken, have two adult children, AnneMarie and Ted, who both graduated through the Monroe public school system.
“I taught in Monroe for 36 years, at Chalk Hill and Jockey Hollow, then Masuk,” Blake said.
Blake was president of the Monroe Education Association, which is the teachers’ union.
“I was a strong advocate for teachers,” she said. “I was chairperson of the negotiations committee.”
Blake served as a substitute teacher in Monroe schools for two years after her retirement and is currently doing longterm substitute teaching in other school districts, which she says allows her to stay current with students, issues and curriculum.
“I’ve been trying to go to Board of Education meetings for the last two years,” Blake said. “I think I have a lot to bring to the table. I have varied experiences as a parent, teacher and union leader. I’ve worked closely with the superintendent, Mr. Kobza, as well as the Board of Education.”
Over the past two years, Blake, who often participates in the public comments portion of school board meetings, said people have told her they thought she would run for a seat on the board, but she thought she had to be affiliated with one of the town’s two major political parties.
“Then I found out I didn’t,” she said. “As an unaffiliated candidate I do not have to support one political stance over another. I’m free to vote on issues according to my own research and what I feel is in the best interests of all Monroe students.”
Blake started the petitioning process in the spring and collected over 60 signatures. “I got well over what I needed, verified by the town clerk and submitted to the Secretary of the State’s Office,” she said.
Beyond the needed signatures, Blake said what she got most out of the process was the enjoyment of discussing school issues with townspeople.
“Everybody had something to say,” she recalled. “Everybody wanted to talk.”
Blake said she would like to see an increase in communication during Board of Education during meetings.
“I would like to know where board members stand on the issues through an open dialogue,” she said. “The Board has a lot of decisions to make that will need financial support regarding the facilities study to address overcrowding of our schools.”
“The schools are one of Monroe’s greatest assets,” Blake said. “We have a great school system. We need to have a vision and to be fiscally responsible to meet the needs of the district. They’re not wants. They’re needs.”
Blake has a few lawn signs, her Marie Blake for Monroe Board of Education Facebook page and said she has been hitting the pavement, talking to people at town parks and making connections.
“If I win, I will be very happy and very excited,” she said. “But if I don’t, I won’t be going away. I’ll still go to meetings and I will still voice my concerns during public participation.”
All respectful comments with the commenter’s first and last name are welcome.
