Local Election Campaign Is A Race To The Finish

By Jan Howard

It is down to the last few days before the November 4 municipal election, and campaigning continues in earnest by candidates for the contested seats for first selectman, Board of Selectmen, Legislative Council, and the Board of Education.

On Tuesday it will be up to the voters. Voting will take place from 6 am until 8 pm at the following polling places: District 1, Newtown Middle School gymnasium, Queen Street; District 2, Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades Lane; District 3A, Head O’ Meadow School, Boggs Hill Road; and District 3B, Middle Gate Elementary School, Cold Spring Road.

In the race for the two seats on the Board of Selectmen, the losing candidate for first selectman becomes part of the mix, and of the three candidates, the two with the highest votes would be elected to the board.

Other municipal offices, which are uncontested, include town clerk, Board of Finance, Board of Assessment Appeals, Planning and Zoning Commission and alternates, Zoning Board of Appeals and alternates, Police Commissioners, and Board of Managers of Edmond Town Hall.

The campaign has been spirited since the August caucuses as the two candidates for first selectman, incumbent Democrat First Selectman Herb Rosenthal and Republican challenger Bill Sheluck, debated their different views on a number of issues, from the need for a new town hall to economic development.

They squared off at forums, including Pizza & Politics on October 20 and The Homesteads two nights later, and expressed their views in separate interviews with The Newtown Bee. They have issued press releases, campaigned door-to-door, shaken lots of hands, sent out flyers, and touted their accomplishments and goals in political ads.

Mr Rosenthal, Mr Sheluck and their running mates, Democrat incumbent Selectman Joe Bojnowski and incumbent Republican Selectman Bill Brimmer, have had busy campaign schedules.

Mr Rosenthal points to his administration’s accomplishments over the past six years and Mr Sheluck to his 24 years experience with a New York bank, 11 as its president and CEO, as reasons why they should be elected to the town’s top elected office (see related stories).

Not much is usually heard from Board of Education candidates during the election season because there are usually no contested seats on the board. This year is different. While Democrat David Nanavaty is assured a seat because of a charter provision calling for equal representation of both parties on the board, the real race for the remaining two seats is between the three Republican candidates –– incumbent Andrew Buzzi, Jr, George Caracciolo, and Paul Mangiafico. The two top Republican vote getters will win the seats.

Town Clerk Cindy Simon, a Republican, is running unopposed and has been endorsed by the Democrats.

Eighteen candidates are seeking 12 seats on the Legislative Council, four from each of three districts.

The Republican candidates are: District 1, Michael Iassogna, Richard Recht, and Joseph DiCandido, all incumbents; District 2, Joseph Borst, an incumbent, Robert Mulholland, and Barbara Hanlon Bloom; District 3, William Rodgers, an incumbent, Michael Porco, and David Brown.

The Democratic candidates are: District 1, Francis Pennarola, an incumbent, Martin Gersten, and James Morrow; District 2, Peggy Baiad, Joseph Hemingway, and Timothy Holian, all incumbents; and District 3, Daniel Amaral, Kim Danziger, and James Shpunt.

There are six candidates for the Board of Finance, and voters can vote for all six. They are Republicans Harrison Waterbury, Joseph Kearney, and current chairman John Kortze, and Democrats James Gaston, Peter Giarratano, and Michael Portnoy.

Two candidates can be elected to the Board of Assessment Appeals and there are two, Lillian Strickler, a Republican, and Charles Framularo, a Democrat. Voters may vote for only one.

For the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z), three candidates are running, and three, all incumbents, can be elected. They are Republicans William O’Neil and Sten Wilson and Democrat Robert Poulin.

Three incumbents, Republican Barbara Brymer and Democrats Richard Elgen and Edward Kelleher, are running for three alternate seats on the P&Z.

On the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), voters may also cast ballots for any three, all incumbents, Republicans Richard Kessler and Charles Annett, and Democrat Steven Berg.

Three incumbents, Republicans Timothy Cronin and Laurie Wrabel and Democrat Michael Daubert, will be elected as alternates to the ZBA.

Voters will also elect three candidates to three seats on the Police Commission. They are Republican Richard Simon, an incumbent, and Duane Giannini, and Democrat incumbent Gerald Finnegan.

For the Board of Managers of Edmond Town Hall, two candidates will be elected but voters can cast ballots for only one. The candidates are Republican Marie Sturdevant and Democrat Edgar Beers, both incumbents.