When Alexandra Lamb and her husband started walking their dog, Bucatini, around Manchester, they were pleasantly surprised.
“I didn’t realize how many other people in Manchester had a dog too, because we walked down the street and all of a sudden this whole world opened up to us — all of these people who have dogs, who became whole new friends,” she said. “It was Manchester I didn’t know about.”
Lamb shared this experience late evening on Nov. 4 — Election Day — at the Manchester Country Club for the Manchester Democrat’s election after-party, which quickly became a victory party as all 17 Democrats on the ballot won their elections, including incumbent Mayor Jay Moran, who beat first-time challenger Zachary Reichelt by about 4,300 votes.
Lamb is an assistant research professor at the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut. She has a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy from UConn and currently works in the educational leadership department. Her research focuses on understanding “how schools and districts create the conditions for educational change” that support “ethical technology integration, deeper learning, more equitable schooling, and better student outcomes,” according to Neag’s website.
Lamb ran for — and won — a seat on the Manchester Board of Education for the first time this election. Outside of the Martin School polling location, bundled up to battle the cold and windy election day weather, Lamb said that she ran so she could contribute her expertise to the Manchester school district.
“As a family, we decided it was important to be involved in the schools and help make Manchester a place for everyone,” she said. “[I want to make the schools] inclusive and welcoming and challenging and a supportive environment for every student in Manchester. So, I thought, you know, it’s time to lend my expertise and be part of the public good.”
Lamb ran in part because she is a mother herself, with two kids: a 4-year-old boy and 10-month-old girl. On the Manchester Democrats website, Lamb wrote that she and her husband Sam are proud to raise their two kids (and Bucatini) in this “special town.”
At the victory party, Lamb said that her husband supported her every step of the way, from pushing her to run for election in the first place to pushing their daughter’s stroller while they went door-knocking together. She also said her kids, though little, were as supportive as can be.
“They’ve lent their mom to Manchester, and I’m really appreciative,” she said.
Lamb reflected on her time door-knocking in the midst of her campaign, and how voters shared with her how scared they were regarding today’s political environment.
“It’s really scary times right now. The stuff coming from the federal government is really scary for many families, especially right now with SNAP benefits being sort of slow and less than usual… That’s what I sort of felt as I was knocking doors [these] last three months. We knock on a Democrat’s door and they say, ‘I’m scared and I’m worried for my family,’” Lamb said.
Lamb’s victory speech after her win — which also saw a 4,000+ vote difference between her and her Republican competitors — took on a much more hopeful tone to match the smile she had on her face all night.
“[The election] brings light to people. It brings light to everyone here. It brings light to Manchester. When we knocked on doors, people expressed to us, ‘we’re glad you’re here. Thank you for being our community,’” Lamb said. “So, let’s do this together. The bright future is here, and I’m glad to be here with you.”