Town Clerk Awaiting State Ruling

On Independent Party Candidate

By John Voket

As the print edition of The Newtown Bee went to press Thursday, September 6, Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia was awaiting a ruling from the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s (sots) office about how to handle the placement of an Independent 106th District candidate for the November 6 ballot.

Ms Aurelia said that just before the filing deadline one day earlier, she was notified that the local Independent Party of Newtown endorsed former police commissioner Bruce Walczak as a candidate for the statehouse seat. But the town clerk was previously notified that the state Independent Party was cross-endorsing Newtown Republican Mitch Bolinsky for that same seat.

Democratic Registrar of Voters LeReine Frampton previously told The Bee she believes the ballot lines for state elections are controlled by the statewide Independent Party, which endorsed Mr Bolinsky. Since the 106th District does not cross local boundaries into other towns, she will be awaiting the legal decision from the state.

Complicating matters, the town clerk said she never received an official notice from the IPN advertising the local nominating caucus, which was held on August 31. So she has also made a state level inquiry as to whether the caucus and its resulting nomination of Mr Walczak was legal.

The IPN filed a brief press release which appeared in The Bee, publicizing the August 31 caucus.

Ms Aurelia quoted from an SOTS instruction document that states a five-day written notice “must be filed” with the town clerk ahead of a local nominating caucus. She is awaiting a ruling as to whether the noticing provision applies to the IPN, because that group is technically recognized by the state as an state Independent Party town committee.

A request to Mr Walczak, who is also the IPN’s chairman, for written verification of the August 31 meeting outcome was not immediately provided.

Lisa Romano is a Democratic candidate for the 106th District seat, which is being vacated by two-term Democratic lawmaker Chris Lyddy, who opted to not seek a third term.