I'm a Farmington resident and have been for 25 years. I graduated from the Master's School in West Simsbury in 2000 and Central Connecticut State University in 2007. Between the two, I got distracted by journalism, working as a reporter and editor at The Register Citizen and New Britain Herald. Since I've started working at Patch I've been amazed to see the same faces as when I was a child still working hard to make Farmington great.

My two kids, Hannah and Daniel, started school at East Farms but we recently moved to the West District area. I went to Union School as a kid, so we're touring all the Farmington schools.

Beliefs

At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license to inject beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will cause us to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.

Politics
I believe in people over politics - that people are important even if their parents or past choices were irresponsible. I believe no ethnic, social or economic group is inherently smarter, nicer or more valuable, but that those things more often than not constrain what people become and the opportunities they have. And that they probably shouldn't so we have an obligation to help where we see a need.

Religion
I believe that Jesus is Lord, that nothing happens by accident.

Local Hot-Button Issues
People move to Farmington for a high-quality education and that is the largest factor in property values and town identity. We have to support the schools for those things and also for all of those children who are the future of Farmington.

Beyond that, I'm not excited about housing developments but I can't wait to see what Unionville will become.

Reach me at kaitlin.mccallum@patch.com or 860-276-7653.