Editor’s note: This press release was provided by Vincent Mazzaro.

My name is Vincent Mazzaro and my wife Cathy and I have been residents of Pelham for 25 years.  We have five children Vincent (23), Thomas (20), Russell (20), Michael (17) and Eileen (15).  I am writing to you today to ask for your support in the coming Board of Education election on Tuesday, May 21^t.

By way of background, last summer the Board reached out to the Pelham community seeking candidates to fill positions that opened up when two members stepped down.  These open positions were for a one year term.  With a 15 year volunteering career all on the sports side in Pelham, I was delving into unchartered waters throwing my hat in the proverbial “academic ring”.  Fortunately for me and John Brice, we were both selected from the 11 candidates that were interviewed.

Who is this guy and is he qualified?

For the last 10 years, I have been the Chief Operating Officer of a mid-size brokerage firm.  As the person responsible for the firm’s day-to-day operations, I believe my financial and leadership skills have been a welcome addition to the Board.  Couple that with the fact that I have been a certified public accountant for the last 30 years and you will appreciate why I have been the Chairman of the Audit Committee this year.  If elected, I hope to continue my commitment to the community in managing our limited resources carefully and keeping a sharp eye on the school district’s bottom-line.

Does he know the Pelham community and does the community know him?

Having an appointment on the Pelham Board of Education is an honor that I take very seriously.  My responsibility, along with the other six Board members, is to represent the community and look out for its best interests as we sit side by side with Superintendent Champ and other members of the school administration to chart out the school’s goals and services and establish goals by which school district’s success is measured.  Having lived in Pelham since 1994, I have met a few people along the way.  Couple that with my many years of volunteering and I believe I am a person that people are comfortable approaching and confiding in as it relates to school issues.  Our schools are the pinnacle of what makes our Pelham community tight knit and incredibly sort after.  If elected, I will continue my unwavering accessibility and approachability.

So you talk about volunteering, what exactly have you done for Pelham?

Having five active sports-oriented children, I was that dad that wanted to be with each of them as they enjoyed their Pelham sports; it is with that said that I believe that I have coached more than 100 teams in town.  In addition, as an active member of “Friends of Pelham Sports”, I was instrumental in the fundraising and construction of our turf field at Glover.  An experience that taught me an incredible amount about our town fields and turf, in particular, and was the primary reason why I am also the Chairman of the Athletic Facilities Committee.  Lastly, I recently stepped down from the Recreation Commission, which is responsible for all recreation sports in town.  I served on the Commission for approximately six years with three serving as Chairman.

In summary.

The Board and the school district’s administration do an incredible job educating our children, our greatest assets.  The job has been very challenging at times but I believe that I have shown to the Superintendent, the other six members of the Board, and the Pelham community at large that I have been up to the challenge.  We have accomplished so much this past year BUT there is so much more to do.  With the community’s support on May 21^st, I hope to continue the work that I have started.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

Vincent Mazzaro