Party affiliation: Republican

Are you an incumbent for this seat? yes

Campaign website:

Education/degrees: J.D. (Law) Georgetown Univ.

Ph.D. (Human Development & Family Studies) Penn State Univ.

M.A. (Human Development Education) Univ. of Maryland

B.A. (Psychology) Univ. of Connecticut

Occupation: Acting Dean, Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, Univ. of New Haven

Civic involvement: Member, Connecticut Human Trafficking Council.

Member, American Society of Victimology

Endorsements: Republican Town Committee

Previous offices held and other government service: Deputy Director, Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice.

Policy Manager, Legal Services Corporation.

Assistant to the Mayor, Bridgeport, CT.

Advisory Board, Connecticut Office of the Victim Advocate.

Advisory Board, Connecticut Dept. of Mental Health.

What are the major issues for your town? We must "stay the course" in Old Saybrook. We have a great town with wonderful assets and opportunities for every citizen. We have great town services and a fantastic educational system, and all this with among the lowest taxation rates in the entire state. We have had steady leadership for the past dozen years and it is imperative to keep those committed incumbents in place and to elect to open positions individuals who will keep that vision alive and real for us all. In particular, the positive and cooperative relationship that has developed between the Board of Education, the Board of Finance and the Board of Selectmen has been very beneficial to the town as a whole. In terms of both cost consciousness and budget austerity, and by maintaining a positive and constructive focus on keeping Old Saybrook great, I would reiterate that Life is Good in Old Saybrook and we should Keep It That Way!

What makes you the best candidate for this office? I believe that I am a good candidate for reelection because of my passion for educating our students. I understand the importance of education from my time in both the private sector and the public sector. For the past 18 years I have been a college professor and, more recently, an administrator and I have personally taught many hundreds of students, experienced the joy of good teaching-and-learning, and seen a generation of graduates become successful contributors to their communities and the larger society. I am also skilled at managing the legal, policy and budgetary oversight of offices and institutions that deliver education and other services, and I believe that this has been demonstrated particularly during my recent tenure as Chairman of the Board of Education. Finally, my wife and I have two children. They are fourth generation Old Saybrookers. One is in the middle school and the other is a little too young yet. I want our schools to be the best they can be for all our children and I am committed to continuing my efforts on the Board of Education.

What was the last book you read, and what did you think of it? I read a great deal for my work as an academic and in recent years have been involved in a number of humanitarian-related initiatives. In that vein, I recently read "How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas" by David Bornstein. It is a wonderful book about social responsibility and problem-solving that embodies the concept of "give someone a fish and they will eat for a day, but teach someone to fish and they will eat for a lifetime." Even the most intractable problems can be overcome when opportunity meets human creativity, drive and potential. The concept of social entrepreneurism provides a great lesson for is all on how to make the world a better place.

MARIO T. GABOURY

Email:

Address: 54 Meadowood Lane, Old Saybrook, CT 06475

Marital Status/Children: Married with Two Children

Age on Election Day:53