Spotlight on Farrah Garland

Many RiseUpMystic members know Farrah Garland as one of our earliest and most active participants. Farrah has been a driving force behind Stonington Pride, an advocate for accessibility and inclusion, and a thoughtful leader who believes in the power of civic engagement.

Farrah is running for the Stonington Board of Education on the Working Families Party (WFP) line, with a campaign focused on inclusivity, community engagement, and strengthening public education. The WFP shares many of the same core values that guide Farrah’s work, including fairness, opportunity, and a commitment to strong public schools that reflect and serve the entire community.

Founded in the 1990s by a coalition of organized labor and community action groups, the Working Families Party was created to promote economic justice, affordable health care, and fair wages. The party has since expanded to several states, including Connecticut, where it often works with Democrats to advance these shared priorities.

In cities such as Hartford and Bridgeport, Democrats have worked with the Working Families Party to ensure that more voter-preferred candidates are elected to local boards and commissions. This cooperation adds another choice for voters and has helped reduce the number of Republican candidates who are automatically seated under Connecticut’s Minority Representation law even when Democratic candidates received greater voter support.

That same law applies in Stonington. This means that Stonington voters may select three Democratic candidates for Board of Finance and may also vote for Farrah Garland on the Working Families Party line.

Receiving at least one percent of the vote for the WFP line would also allow future Democratic candidates to be cross-endorsed by the Working Families Party in upcoming elections.

In Farrah’s own words:

“I am running for Stonington Board of Education, and I have been endorsed by the Working Families Party. I am looking forward to a very community-centric, inclusive, authentic campaign. I am excited to hear from folks about their thoughts about our school system, share more about my views on the beauties of public education, and how we can do more for our kiddos and educators here in Stonington.”