Dems for Newington Board of Ed

08/23/2025

Statement on Recent ICE Activity in Newington

On Saturday morning, seven individuals were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while working at the Optimo Car Wash on Main Street in Newington. The Newington Police Department (NPD) was not involved in these arrests and was only notified afterward as a courtesy. Since learning of this incident, we have requested immediate information from the Hartford ICE office, where inquiries have been directed. We are actively working to determine who was targeted, whether their families have been notified, where they are being held, and if or how they have been charged.

We are deeply concerned by this incident. In the United States, everyone — regardless of their immigration status or where they were born — has the right to due process and to fundamental protections that cannot and must not be denied. This is a guarantee for any person in this country afforded by the United States Constitution. The recent actions of ICE by the federal government are designed to intimidate and terrorize immigrants and their families, and we will not stand idly by.

As community leaders, we stand united with Newington’s immigrant communities. Our town has been and will remain a place where families are welcome and where neighbors look out for one another. We will not be intimidated, and we will never be silent.

We will share new information with the community as it becomes available.

Mayor Jon Trister
State Senator Matthew Lesser
State Representative Gary Turco
State Representative Kate Farrar
Deputy Mayor Kim Radda
Town Council Majority Leader Mitch Page
Town Councilor Kathy Gonzalez
Town Councilor Matt Plourd
Town Councilor A.J. Tiniakos
Board of Education Chair Amy Perrotti
Board of Education Vice Chair Jessica Weaver
Board of Education Member Meri Beatrice
Board of Education Secretary Shaun Holloran
Board of Education Member Sam Sharma

04/17/2024

We want to thank Mayor Jon Trister and the Newington Town Council for passing a responsible, respectable budget last night. You listened to the public over several weeks when they came out to support Newington Public Schools. The general concensus was that education should be valued and regardless if they had kids in school or not, they were happy to see tax dollars going to education (even if it means paying a little more).

The Board of Ed received a budget increase of 5.95%. Our capital request was not funded, but it was moved to the operating budget. This was a collaborative decision made to ensure we can properly fund our student’s education.

After several years of historically low funding, federal Covid grants coming to an end, a much deserved contractual increase for our teachers, and the educational needs of our increasingly diverse community, this was a very much needed increase!

Thank you for the teamwork, transparency, collaboration, and hours spent working on this budget! We are extremely happy we are able to maintain our current programs and staffing!

Thank you also to the Town leadership and Dr Brummett and her team for presenting these budgets and answering /clarifying what had to have been hundreds of questions!

Newington Town Councilor Mitch Page
Town Councilor Kim Radda
Town Councilor Matt Plourd
Newington Town Councilor Kathy Gonzalez
Newington Town Councilor A.J. Tiniakos

11/08/2023

Thank you, Newington! 💙💛 Our team is honored to have been elected to lead our Board of Education!

As we campaigned, we pledged that our focus would be on Newington’s kids, and you can count on us to honor that commitment. We congratulate our colleagues who have also been elected to the Board, and we look forward to working together to support our students and teachers.

We’re also excited to work alongside our newly elected Mayor and Town Council to help move NPS forward.

When we stand united, Newington’s kids win.

Thank you!

-Sam, Shaun, Amy, Meri, and Jessica

Sam Sharma for Newington Board of Education
Shaun Holloran for Newington Board of Education
Amy Perrotti for Newington BOE
Meri Works for Newington (Meri Beatrice)
Jessica Weaver- BOE Member

Newington Democrats

11/07/2023

It’s Election Day!!! We want to thank Newington for all the conversations we’ve had over the last several months. It has been our pleasure to hear your stories, listen to your concerns, and talk about what you want to see for our schools!

We promise to stand together to protect each and every student’s freedom to learn in a safe and welcoming environment. Every child, regardless of background, deserves to learn in a community where they are treated with kindness and respect.

Our team has deeply rooted connections to our school system as parents of current and former students and former students themselves. We know the students, the staff and the parents and we have the required experience as a team to ensure that the integrity of our district’s learning environment is protected.

We need your help, so we’re asking for your vote today! A vote for Democrats on Row A is a vote to protect the Newington Public Schools we all know and love!

-Sam Sharma, Shaun Holloran, Jessica Weaver, Amy DeVoe Perrotti and Meri Beatrice

11/07/2023

Sam Sharma for Newington Board of Education
Shaun Holloran for Newington Board of Education
Jessica Weaver- BOE Member
Amy Perrotti for Newington BOE
Meri Works for Newington (Meri Beatrice)

Newington Democrats

11/06/2023

Thank you, Gary! Newington needs change, and we need *everyone’s* help to make it happen.

We’re asking every Newington voter to make the time to cast a ballot for our team this Tuesday!

This is my team, this is your team, and this is Newington’s team! The Democratic team on ROW A is running for office for no other reason than to help improve Newington for all of its residents and they have the vision to lead us into the future.

I believe in them and I hope you will join the thousands of your neighbors who are coming out to vote for them this Tuesday, November 7th from 6 am to 8 pm. It’s time for a change in Newington’s Town Hall. As Chief Clark said, we need this Democratic team to win to bring honesty and transparency back to our town hall. This is our chance to be that change together as a community and vote! 🗳️


Dems for Newington Board of Ed
Newington Democrats
Jon Trister for Newington Mayor
Amy Perrotti for Newington BOE
Jessica Weaver- BOE Member
Shaun Holloran for Newington Board of Education
Sam Sharma for Newington Board of Education
Meri Works for Newington
Brian "Bubba" Whalen For Fire Commissioner
Matthew Plourd
Town Councilor Kim Radda
Newington Town Councilor Mitch Page
Kathy Gonzales

11/04/2023

We’re grateful for all the support we’ve received from area unions. The concerns of working families in our community truly do matter! 💙💛

Fair wages, health care benefits, safety in the workplace, and job security matter. I am grateful for the services provided to our community by union members, and thank them for their support! SEIU District 1199 New England,CSEA SEIU Local 2001, Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges, SEIU L1973, Connecticut Employees Union Independent,

11/03/2023

We appreciate this thoughtful letter Republican Board of Ed Vice Chair Beth Manke Hutvagner wrote in support of Amy Perrotti for Newington BOE and Jessica Weaver- BOE Member! Unfortunately, it didn't make it into the Rare Reminder, so we're sharing it below.

Beth is retiring from the Board to spend more time with her family, and she'll be missed! We hope our tradition of working across the table to put kids first will continue with our new Board.
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Dear Editor,
Over the past two years, I have had the pleasure of working with Amy Perrotti and Jessica Weaver. Both women have worked tirelessly to ensure that the students of Newington are put first in all Board of Education planning.

Amy is a mother of three and active member of PTO/PTA. She knows firsthand what it takes to ensure students reach success and teachers are given the tools to provide the best learning opportunities and experiences for children. She brings a level head, a wealth of knowledge, and a kind heart into all that she does for the board.

Jessica, a Newington graduate, has a strong knowledge base and has been a leader in helping write policy and keeping the board up to date with the happenings at our state capitol.

Both women have always attended meetings, sub committee meetings, and have been a presence at all townwide school events. They are two women who I strongly believe will lead our Newington Board of Education to making the best decisions and put students first. I admire their strong understanding of budgets, their passion for education, and their ability to work in a bipartisan way to lead and help our schools to grow.

Beth A Manke Hutvagner
Vice Chair, Newington BOE

11/01/2023

Thank you, Jennifer Rodriguez, Teacher of the Year - Newington 2022-2023 and Carol Duggan! Having the support of *two* women who have been recognized as Newington Teacher of the Year is particularly meaningful to us.

Each day, NPS teachers put their all into helping every student thrive. Jen and Carol know that Newington needs a Board of Ed team that also puts our students' needs first.

On Tuesday, November 7th, we're asking you to join them in voting for all five of us:

7A: Sam Sharma for Newington Board of Education
8A: Shaun Holloran for Newington Board of Education
9A: Jessica Weaver- BOE Member
10A: Amy Perrotti for Newington BOE
11A: Meri Works for Newington (Meri Beatrice)

10/31/2023

Thank you, State Rep Gary Turco! Supporting Newington's kids and teachers requires teamwork, and we appreciate all you've done to help our schools.

Newington, we're asking for your vote on November 7th so that we can continue to work as partners who advocate for our students and teachers.

10/28/2023

Thank you for your support, Chief Clark!

Our former police chief is right—we need to bring honesty and transparency back to Newington. That’s why Row A is asking for your vote on November 7th!