Fall Slates Caucused–

Democrats, Republicans Cross-Endorse Incumbent BOF

By John Voket

In back-to-back sessions Monday and Tuesday, Newtown Democrats and Republicans held their respective caucuses, confirming the lineup of candidates expected to occupy the local ballot in this fall’s elections. While Monday’s Democratic caucus was upbeat, the Republican session Tuesday was overshadowed by news that first selectmen candidate Patricia Llodra was suddenly called away to attend to a family emergency.

It was subsequently reported that evening that Ms Llodra’s daughter, Sharon Llodra Barrows, had passed away after a brief illness (see Obituaries, page A-3).

This year’s local caucuses were not concluded without some political drama, and a couple of surprises.

First and foremost was the unprecedented cross-endorsement of the entire incumbent Board of Finance by both major parties. While Democrats announced their intent to support Republicans John Kortze, Harrison Waterbury, and Joseph Kearney with little fanfare and no opposition, several Republicans questioned the reasoning and were provided with ample opportunity to field a fourth GOP candidate for the fall ballot before eventually cross-endorsing Democrats James Gaston, Michael Portnoy, and Martin Gersten.

RTC Chairman William Brimmer responded to questions from among the more than 110 attendees at Tuesday’s RTC caucus, saying, “We feel all six individuals on the Board of Finance are doing an outstanding job, and that kind of work should carry on.”

Contacted following the RTC action, Mr Gaston said the cross-endorsement by the Republican and Democratic parties reflect an opinion that the Board of Finance should be apolitical, and comprised of members who, although not in agreement on all issues, work for the betterment of the town by listening to each other and respecting the opinions of one another.

“As a result, I believe the Board of Finance functions well together,” Mr Gaston added. “Presently, the board consists of two members who work directly in the financial markets, two lawyers, an accountant, and a member in the corporate sector. Indeed, it is well-rounded and diversified. In short, I think the parties respect the depth and civility of the board members.”

A few minutes after the RTC’s decision on the finance board, during endorsements for the Planning & Zoning Commission, Republican incumbent Jane Brymer received the unanimous endorsement for one of two open positions on that panel. But then a call came from the floor to cross endorse the incumbent chair Lilla Dean, a Democrat. Again, caucus moderator Robert Hall called for any competitive Republican bids for the contestable seat, but there were no takers, so Ms Dean was nominated unanimously.

‘Work Hard And Campaign To Stay On’

In other curious cross-party news, DTC officials told The Newtown Bee that prior to their Monday caucus, William Hart, a Republican who had just received an interim appointment to the Newtown Board of Education, had interviewed for a full term seat on the school board with the Democrats.

Contacted later, Mr Hart said that since his interim appointment is scheduled to lapse this December, he originally made a request to interview for a GOP ballot slot in the hope of securing a full term. But he said he was told the ballot was already full.

Mr Hart then was invited to interview with the Democrats, but shortly after accepting an interview appointment, he was called back by the GOP to interview at the same time. He said he declined the GOP interview, saying he was going to try for an endorsement from the DTC.

Calling himself a “socially liberal, fiscal conservative,” Mr Hart said although he was a long-term registered Republican, his interest is to “work hard and campaign to stay on the school board.” Adding that he still may seek a ballot slot as a petitioning candidate, he would not confirm or deny that he was seeking a position with the Independent Party of Newtown (IPN), a local political committee that already saw four candidates qualify for minor party status after being elected to seats on the council, police commission and school board in 2007.

Local Democrats in the end chose not to endorse Mr Hart or Democrat Richard Gaines, another interim school board appointee who interviewed for consideration for a full term with the DTC. Party Chairman James Juliano said that the appointments of both Mr Hart and Mr Gaines to the interim seats came with “some controversy,” because the party’s recommendations for interim candidates were ignored by school board Chair Elaine McClure.

“The Board of Education, and Ms McClure, have recently diverted from the longstanding practice of seating interim candidates recommended by the town committee,” Mr Juliano said. “Our board of education is no longer inclusive. Ms McClure used to call us for [candidate] recommendations in the past, and this time we had nominees ready to go and she never even notified us about interviews.”

Mr Juliano said furthermore, Democratic school board member Anna Wiedemann was never notified about the meeting to interview, discuss, and possibly vote on the latest interim appointment, so she never had an opportunity to cast her vote on whether or not to seat Mr Hart.

Contacted following the caucus, Mr Gaines expressed surprise that he was not endorsed by his party, but vowed to “actively pursue seeking a full term on this November’s ballot.”

“I think I did a lot of good since my appointment to the board,” Mr Gaines added. “I believe I still have a lot to offer to the town and the school district.”

Two Vying For Town Clerk’s Seat

For the first time in recent memory, there will be at least a two-way contest for the town clerk’s seat. Incumbent Republican Debbie Aurelia will be challenged by DTC candidate Sara Frampton.

Coincidentally, Ms Frampton is the daughter of Registrar of Voters and DTC Candidate Committee Chair LeReine Frampton, while Debbie Aurelia is the daughter of Registrar of Voters Karin Aurelia. The DTC also nominated selectman Herb Rosenthal as a Zoning Board of Appeals alternate, after the former first selectman announced he would not seek elected office in November.

Mr Rosenthal later explained that the position was open and he decided to pursue continued service to the community, if he became elected in this capacity. By continuing on in an elected post after his selectman’s term expires in December, Mr Rosenthal will also be allowed to continue as a voting member of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, a government support and advocacy organization that formerly elected Mr Rosenthal as its chairman.

A point of change in the Republican slate, which was originally proposed several weeks ago by the town committee, concerned P&Z alternate James Belden. Mr Brimmer announced that Mr Belden had withdrawn his name for consideration for another term on that commission, and he was replaced by Michael Porco, who was unanimously endorsed.

Mr Belden subsequently told The Bee that he was endorsed as a council candidate, and that he was planning to run on the IPN ticket this November. Mr Belden said he was never notified that the RTC planned to put him on the ticket again as a Republican P&Z alternate, and that he had also interviewed unsuccessfully for a council position with the Democrats, after changing his political affiliation from Republican to unaffiliated.

Saying his “volunteer time is more valuable” being utilized in a more active political capacity that P&Z alternate, Mr Belden added that despite an affiliation with the IPN, he will remain “an independent thinker.”

The IPN chairman, and its candidate for first selectman, Bruce Walczak said an announcement on additional endorsements by the local political group would be forthcoming in the next few days, and that to date, the IPN would support at least 20 candidates on the fall ballot. Reacting to the news of the cross-endorsement of the full incumbent finance board, Mr Walczak said, “That doesn’t give voters a whole lot of choices, does it? I guess our two candidates will make it a race.”

The IPN chair was referring to the recent endorsement of Roger Letso and Albert Roznicki as IPN candidates for the finance board.

Democrat, Republican Nominating Caucus Outcomes

The Democratic Town Committee on Monday, July 27, endorsed the following slate for the local fall elections:

Judge of Probate (Special Election): Timothy Holian

First Selectman: Gary Fetzer

Board of Selectmen: Joseph Hemingway

Town Clerk: Sara Frampton

Board of Finance: James Gaston, Martin Gersten, Michael Portnoy, John Kortze (R), Joseph Kearney (R), Harrison Waterbury (R)

Board of Education: Eric Paradis, Frank Scalzo

Board of Assessment Appeals: Charles Framularo, Jr

Planning & Zoning Commission: Lilla Dean

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA): Alan Clavette

ZBA Alternate: Herb Rosenthal

Police Commission: Robert Connor, Jr

Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers: James Juliano

Legislative Council District 1: Paul Lundquist, Ross Carley

Legislative Council District 2: Robert Edwards, Andrew Sachs

Legislative Council District 3: Jan Lee Brookes, Daniel Amaral

The Republican Town Committee on Tuesday, July 28, endorsed the following slate for the local fall elections:

Judge of Probate (Special Election): Moira Rodgers

First Selectman: Patricia Llodra

Board of Selectmen: Will Rodgers

Town Clerk: Debbie Aurelia

Board of Finance: John Kortze, Joseph Kearney, Harrison Waterbury, James Gaston (D), Martin Gersten (D), Michael Portnoy (D)

Board of Education: Deborah Leidlein, George Caracciolo, and Chris Lagana

Board of Assessment Appeals: Marianne Brown

Planning & Zoning Commission: Lilla Dean (D)

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA): Barbara O’Connor

ZBA Alternate; Brian O’Connor

Police Commission: James Viadero

Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers: Marie Smith

Legislative Council District 1: John Aurelia, Jan Andras, and George Ferguson

Legislative Council District 2: Richard Woycik, Christopher Laroque, and Mary Ann Jacob

Legislative Council District 3: Jeff Capeci, Benjamin Spragg, and Mitchell Bolinsky