Town Party Leaders Prep For Caucuses, Hope To See More New Voters

By John Voket

In a town where major initiatives and millions of dollars in authorizations are too often passed by a handful of taxpayers, and where even controversial referendums draw a fraction of eligible voters, local political party leaders are hoping 2005 will be the year more Newtown residents get involved.

Everyone from the town clerk to political party leaders are calling for eligible residents to register to vote, and to affiliate.

“It’s an important right and one of our basic freedoms,” said Town Clerk Cynthia Simon. “Everybody who can, should register to vote and participate in the local political process.”

That process counting down to November 8, 2005 — Election Day — will officially begin in just a few days. Both the town Democrats and Republicans are slated to hold their party caucuses on Monday, July 25.

That night, town residents could learn whether there will be any real surprises on the ballot come Election Day, or if anyone will come forward to primary the party endorsed candidates. And if party affiliates feels strong enough in their conviction to make a difference, they could very well find themselves on the ballot if they can make a strong stand at their respective caucus.

Despite fairly extensive media coverage of national political caucuses especially during a presidential election year, the local caucus process and the means for citizens to gain political positions at the grassroots level is something of a mystery to many.

In fact, in conversations with spokespeople from both local parties, a representative from the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s office, and the average resident on the street, no single person could fully explain all the intricacies of the caucus process.

According to local GOP communications officer Jeff Capeci, the party has announced its slate of candidates to be officially endorsed for the ticket at the July 25 caucus, slated to be held at the Senior Center facility in Sandy Hook at 7:30 that evening (see related story).

Town Democrats were still interviewing a final few contenders as they prepared for their party’s final nominating committee meeting at press time Thursday evening, July 14. The Newtown Democrats expect to announce a slate in next week’s Newtown Bee.

Democratic Town Committee Chairman Earl Smith said, however, that any positions remaining open following Thursday evening’s nominating meeting could still be filled before or at their caucus, also scheduled for July 25.

“The town committee can authorize the nominating subcommittee to continue working to secure candidates to complete the slate,” Mr Smith said. He said if the situation comes down to presenting a full slate as late as the night of the local Democratic the caucus, the endorsements will in effect, be “preapproved” by party leadership.

He said that, by law, any Democrat would be welcome at the party caucus to put forth an alternative nominee.

“If there is somebody out there who wants to put forth a candidate, the caucus is the time,” Mr Smith said.

GOP party leader Carol Recht said the Newtown Republican Town Committee (RTC) is set to present its slate (see related story), and reiterated that registered Republican may also nominate candidates from the floor,

“The town committee retains the privilege of making the first nomination for each office, but it is the caucus who officially endorses candidates,” said Ms Recht.

Both Ms Recht and Mr Smith said this year, their respective parties were very motivated to seek out newcomers to induct into the political process. Ms Recht said that while many incumbents are running for reelection, the NRTC was pleased that several newcomers had also come forward.

Mr Smith, who has 36 years of experience in local politics, said he was particularly interested in motivating some of the many new residents who moved to Newtown in recent years who may have been involved in party activities in their former communities.

“We understand that sometimes new people in town want to test the political waters, but don’t want to seem pushy when it comes to asserting themselves to the town committee even if they have held political offices in other towns or out of state,” he said. “We try to encourage people to let us know their interests, if not to fill an immediate vacancy, at least for consideration if an appropriate spot opens up for a particular appointment to a town board or commission.”

The Caucus Process

According to sources, it is the local town committees that maintain their respective party’s activities, handle the day-to-day business and identify, nominate and support candidates for political office. With local elections dominating the political landscape this November, it will be the local party caucuses July 25 that formally endorse candidates for the upcoming election.

Mr Smith said that while typically, parties come to the caucus in unity over prospective endorsements and elect their slate by voice vote, on the rare occasion there are inner party splits between nominees for the same spot on the ticket, caucus participants may be asked to recommend their candidate by private written ballot.

According to Bernard Liu at the secretary of the state’s office, since local political parties are considered to be private organizations, each caucus reserves the right to allow only fellow party members to attend, excluding unaffiliated voters and even the press if they so choose.

Mr Liu, who represents the state’s elections and administration division, said in more volatile political atmospheres, caucuses can become spirited when inner factions begin competing on behalf of their respective nominees.

“Don’t forget, parties can end up endorsing anyone they choose, even cross-endorsing a candidate from the opposing political party,” Mr Liu said. “We simply expect the caucuses to follow local party rules and to conduct the process fairly.”

In Newtown, some confusion may be inherent in the process because of charter-stipulated minority representation. Even if each party tenders a candidate for every line on the ballot, each party is guaranteed representation on elected boards.

Ms Simon said, for example, that in Newtown’s Third District legislative council race, each party can nominate four candidates, but only three can be elected because of the minority rule in the town charter. And if that district is underendorsed by one candidate, anyone attending the caucus can nominate a potential candidate, and if that nomination is seconded and the nominee receives a majority of support from party caucus attendees, they can automatically be placed in that open position on the ballot.

“But if the caucus adjourns with any underendorsed lines still open, those positions cannot be filled later,” Ms Simon explained.

Ms Simon, a Republican, is one of those town officials who has enjoyed the privilege of both cross-endorsement, and running unopposed over her years of service.

“I’m honored that the Democrats have cross-endorsed me as their town clerk candidate,” she said. A cross-endorsement means her name appears on both the Democrat and Republican lines on the ballot, as opposed to if she is running unopposed. In that instance, no name appears in the space reserved for the Democratic contender for town clerk.

Ultimately, Ms Simon said all Newtown residents should assert a voice in the local political process as well as making a stand by aligning themselves with a major party.

“More people should affiliate and participate,” she said. “We need everyone qualified to come to the caucuses and to choose who their local candidates should be. If you don’t, you have no right to complain about the way anything is being handled here in town.”