McClure, Fetchick Vote With RTC Endorsing Caracciolo

For New School Board Seat

By John Voket

School Board Chair Elaine McClure and fellow Board of Education member Katherine Fetchick both stood in unanimous support of fellow GOP contender George Caracciolo May 10 when the local Republican Town Committee endorsed the former school official to fill a new seat created by the recent Charter revision.

According to a release and follow-up correspondence from RTC Secretary and Councilman Jeff Capeci, the voice vote in support of Mr Caracciolo was held with no abstentions and no votes against his nomination. The Republican contender was the highest vote-getting candidate in the general election last November who failed to secure a seat on the board of education.

“Mr Caracciolo has run for the Board of Education in the past, most recently last November when he was the fourth-highest vote getter and would have won election had this seat been available at the time,” Mr Capeci wrote in the release.

After accepting the nod, Mr Caracciolo told fellow Republicans that “education is the most significant investment we can make toward a better society.”

“It is the future of our town and that of America,” Mr Caracciolo remarked. “I believe in public service and I want to do my part on the single most important board in town.”

Jane Sharpe said she backed Mr Caracciolo after observing his performance on the Charter Revision Commission a few years ago.

“He asked deep, thoughtful questions and did his homework,” Ms Sharpe said. “George will make a great addition to the Board of Education.”

Mr Caracciolo has prior experience serving on the Board of Education in a community on Long Island prior to moving to Newtown, the release states. As a retired lieutenant for the New York City Police Department with two grandchildren in Newtown schools, he has personal incentive for both academic excellence and insightful fiscal stewardship.

The release indicated that others present and speaking about Mr Caracciolo’s endorsement included current selectman and past board of education member Paul Mangiafico.

“I’ve known George for a long time and while I did not agree with George on everything, I do believe he will do a fine job because he is a thoughtful man and I can understand the deliberation process he follows to arrive at his decisions,” Mr Mangiafico said. “George will add positive discourse to debate on the Board of Education.”

Town Committee Chairman and former selectman Bill Brimmer said that not only does he support Mr Caracciolo, but indicated that the candidate has the support of First Selectman Joe Borst, who was unable to attend the meeting.

“Mr Borst will be sending a letter to Chairman McClure and the entire Board of Education stating his desire for George’s appointment,” Mr Brimmer said. Speaking to the issue of Ms McClure’s apparent support for her fellow party member, Mr Brimmer and Mr Capeci both said the school board chair told the RTC that she preferred the party put up multiple candidates.

“I don’t want this to sound political, but she is a Republican addressing a Republican group,” Mr Brimmer said. “I think Elaine would like to see as many candidates come forward as possible. But in the end, it is the entire Board of Education that will make the decision.”

Mr Brimmer, however, said he sees Mr Caracciolo as “the peoples’ choice,” based on his vote count in November. “He has school board experience, and was the unanimous choice of all RTC members in attendance. There were no abstentions, no one cast a No vote.”

Ms McClure was not immediately available for comment, and had not returned a phone message left as The Bee went to press Thursday morning.

Ms Fetchick shares the opinion of the RTC due to the fact that that Mr Caracciolo was the highest vote getter not qualifying for a seat.

“George should be the one selected to fill the seventh seat on our board,” Ms Fetchick said. Currently, Ms Fetchick and Ms McClure are the only Republicans on the school board.

According to a separate release, the Newtown Board of Education is seeking qualified candidates to serve as the seventh member of the BOE. Resumes are being accepted at the Board of Education offices at 31 Peck’s Lane, and may be submitted online to junek@newtown.k12.ct.us attention Board Chair Elaine McClure.

This position fulfills a term that runs until November 2009. Qualified candidates will be interviewed by the board and may be from any political party.

The deadline for applications is May 19.

According to a memo from the Democratic Town Committee Secretary sent to The Bee May 9, Democrats Sara Frampton, Julie Luby, Addie Sandler, and Richard Gaines have all expressed interest. Ms Frampton, who ran for the board last fall, has subsequently withdrawn from consideration.

Robert Murray, chairman of the Independent Party of Newtown (IPN) responded to a query about possible candidates from that minor party, saying, “We are currently discussing our options but haven’t yet made a final decision.”

Desiree Galassi, who ran unsuccessfully for a school board seat on the IPN ticket last fall, responded to a separate request for comment saying: “I do not have an answer for you at this time. I wish I had a more definitive answer for you. I recognize that you are trying to give me the opportunity for a newsworthy response.”

Donna Monteleone Randle who switched from an IPN to a write-in candidacy for the school board last November, told The Bee as of Thursday morning she had not spoken to anyone about the open seat. “It’s definitely something to think about,” she said.