Baczewski Won't Run

Mike Baczewski was the youngest elected official in the state of Connecticut when he was elected at 18 to the Berlin Board of Education in 2008.

Now 21, and scheduled to graduate from the University of Connecticut in May of 2012, Baczewski has made a difficult decision to not run for a second term on the Board of Education.

"I have one year left at school and in good conscience I can't run again because I'm not sure what will happen to me after I graduate," Baczewski said. "I am the kind of person that if I say I'm going to do something I do it 100 percent. With me graduating, I don't think I can follow through on that promise to put everything into the position."

He did not rule out running again but much will depend on what happens to him professionally after graduation. He will graduate from UConn with a degree in Urban and Community Studies and he will also have a year in n a Masters Degree in Public Administration. He has his eyes on a career of public service at the local level in a position similar to a town manager.

"I will really miss most being with people on the Board of Education who work so hard and always work hard to put the student ahead of anything else," he said. "They work very hard to increase the performance and opportunities for the students and do whats best for the schools. It is a great group of people."

Baczewski was an integral part of the passage of the renovate as new referendum for the high school. He worked closely with the "Yes to BHS" group and was seemingly behind the scenes at every event helping to get the vote out.

"I don't want to take any credit for that," he said. "The entire Board of Education worked hard and so did the dozens and dozens of citizens who were able to get the voters out. That is a project that will be with the town for decades and if I can say I helped just a little bit, that's a great accomplishment."

Baczewski won a Provost's Award for Excellence in Public Engagement in the Undergraduate Student category at UConn last year. Baczewski is an urban and community studies major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He received the award for making great strides with engagement in a number of areas on campus and beyond, specifically demonstrating volunteerism and engagement in service as well as political arenas, most notably serving as a member of the Board of Education for the Town of Berlin.