I’m writing in support of Shawn Tiernan for the Branford Board of Education.

I’ve known Shawn as a friend since we were kids, and we graduated in the same class at Branford High School in the 1970s.

I’ve also known Shawn professionally. He recently retired after working as a public defender for 32 years. I had the pleasure of watching him work during the years I was a sheriff at the New Haven Superior Court. I can tell you that Shawn is a tremendous attorney and a fierce advocate for his clients. In particular, he worked relentlessly on behalf of young people who came before the court. Shawn knew what a critical stage they were in their lives, and he was committed to making sure the problems of their present did not harm their future.

I know that commitment to looking out for kids still burns bright in him.

Like me, Shawn is a Branford lifer. We share the experience of having attended Branford Public Schools with many siblings and having sent our own kids through the school system. All that history teaches you a lot about how important a quality school system is to a person’s future. It’s that perspective of knowing the past and present of Branford schools, that makes Shawn the right person to elect to our Board of Education.

I can’t think of anyone I’d rather see sitting on the Board than Shawn, looking out for the present and future generations of Branford kids.

I urge you to vote for Shawn Tiernan on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Dan Kinney

Branford