We-Ha.com is offering our readers the opportunity to meet the candidates running in the Nov. 2, 2021 municipal election. 

Compiled by Ronni Newton

We-Ha.com is offering our readers the opportunity to “Meet the Candidate” – designed to help them get to know the candidates running for office in the 2021 municipal election.

Identical questionnaires have been sent to all candidates, and each profile received has been submitted directly to We-Ha.com by the candidate or the candidate’s campaign management. The responses have not been edited but have been formatted to match our publication style. Questions left blank have been deleted.

As profiles are received, they will be published on We-Ha.com under the “Government” tab. We-Ha.com is not making endorsements of any political candidates but we are publishing this information in order to assist voters in being informed and prepared when they go to the polls on Nov. 2.

If you are a candidate and wish to submit a profile, please return it by email to Ronni Newton at [email protected] as soon as possible.

Name: Ross Jacobs

Age: 45

Party, position seeking: A Connecticut Party, Board of Education

Family information: My wife Kristyn Rosen-Jacobs and I were married in 2018. Kristyn moved here and continued her teaching career of 17 years with Hartford Public Schools. I have lived in West Hartford since 1998 and graduated from UCONN. Our blended family is blessed with two children – Jack a 4^th grader and Arielle a 1^st grader. My family means the world to me and brings me the greatest joy.

Other occupation, if applicable:  SVP of Candid Worldwide

Political experience: While this is my first foray into public office, I have been active in the West Hartford Community since moving here in 1998.

Why are you running for office? As a parent of two Norfeldt students, I look forward to working together with parents and families, faculty, and all school community stakeholders in an effort to continuously make West Hartford Public Schools a safe, healthy and nurturing school environment for all. I am passionate about ensuring equity in our public schools and committed to closing the achievement gap. As a parent of a child with special needs, I have firsthand experience in collaborating with the school system in that capacity. I have worked successfully with Pupil Services and school staff within the framework of special education to work out the best possible outcomes. My understanding of the needs for progressive and successful school policy reform and support would not have been possible without the mentorship of my wife and mother-in-law who are lifelong educators. Through their guidance I have learned what I’ve come to call, the ability to “speak school”. My belief in the A Connecticut Party (ACP) is the commitment that public education is not a platform for partisan politics and to ensure the success of all children we must work collaboratively dissolving party lines. My commitment to positively affecting the lives of our students, their parents, the livelihoods of those the district employs, and the economic well-being of the community are my priority. There are tough decisions regarding continuing to improve our educational deliverables in a fiscally sustainable manner and I am here to listen and work tirelessly to what’s best for the district as a whole.

What issue(s) are your primary area of focus? Equitable experiences for all children and providing an objective voice in policy making while working to appropriate funds in a responsible manner.

What do you feel differentiates you from other candidates also running for this position? Whereas many of my opponents have backgrounds in education, my vested interest as a parent of two children currently at Norfeldt Elementary school along with my career in problem solving, collaboratively working with others, and budgeting resources has in fact uniquely prepared me to be a member on the Board of Education.

Anything else you would like to share? I am running to be a member of the Board of Education to voice the opinion and concerns of many people in our community. As I’ve walked these streets for weeks it is abundantly clear that there is a large population of people that are frustrated with the politics and behaviors that make them feel shut out of the process and who are angry that their input doesn’t seem to matter. I am here to tell you that it does. I am here to tell you that I will be a megaphone for that voice. I am not here saying you will get everything you want or lie and say that everything is possible. I will tell you that trust is built on telling people the truth, not telling them what they want to hear. This I can promise you is my philosophy and my approach to working with everyone. There doesn’t have to be a political side to education, the ONLY side is being on the side of the children and the community we serve!  My job will be to connect the will of the community to the education of its children.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to work with all of you and please vote for Ross Jacobs on Tuesday November 2^nd along with the other members of the A CONNECTICUT PARTY….VOTE ROW D!

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