Date: Fri 23-Jul-1999
Date: Fri 23-Jul-1999
Publication: Bee
Author: KAAREN
Quick Words:
politics-Republican-caucus
Full Text:
Republican Caucus Gives Rosenthal A Free Ride
BY KAAREN VALENTA
First Selectman Herb Rosenthal was assured of a second term Tuesday evening
when the Republican caucus opted not to challenge him in the November
election.
âI'm a little worried that because of that, the Republican party will be light
on campaigning and could suffer loses of [Legislative] Council seats,â
Councilman Pierre Rochman said afterwards. âIf there are freshmen coming in to
vote on big projects facing the town, it could undo all the work that we have
done.
âWe have to work extra hard to bring the incumbents back,â he told the two
dozen party members who attended the meeting in the Alexandria Room at Edmond
Town Hall.
The Republicans also will have new candidates on the ballot. In District II,
where Joseph Borst is the only incumbent Republican running for reelection,
Andrew Buzzi was endorsed to run for the seat currently held by Karen Blawie.
Mrs Blawie, a three-term member of the council, opted not to run again because
of family commitments. Mr Buzzi is vice chairman of the Republican Town
Committee and a member of the Public Building & Site Committee.
Richard A. Carnaghi of Acorn Drive was tapped to round out the slate in
District II. A graduate of West Point and Vietnam veteran, Mr Carnaghi retired
in March from the Heritage Development Group, where he was a senior vice
president.
The caucus approved incumbents Edward L. Lucas, Pierre Rochman and Donald T.
Studley for District I, and John W. Kortze, William Rodgers, and Brian C.
White for District III.
Newcomer Sheila Stickles will run for the seat on the Board of Education that
became open when Charles Nanavaty chose not to run again. Also endorsed as a
school board candidate was Earl Gordon, who joined the board two months ago to
replace Susan Hills who resigned in mid-term.
Another newcomer, Richard âFuzzyâ Simon, was endorsed as a candidate for the
Police Commission. The Republican seat became open when William F. Meyer
announced he would not seek reelection.
Mr Simon's wife, Cynthia Curtis Simon, will be running for an eighth
consecutive term as town clerk.
âIt is an understatement to say that you are doing a creditable job,â said
State Rep Julia Wasserman as she placed Mrs Simon's name in nomination. âIt
shows in the fact that you are unopposed. Every attorney that I have spoken to
has the highest regard for your department.â
Newtown's Democrats, who meet in caucus the evening of July 22, have
traditionally not run a candidate against Mrs Simon.
Rounding out the slate of candidates endorsed Tuesday evening are Board of
Town Hall Managers, Sandra Motyka; Board of Assessment Appeals, Robert
Matzelle and Eleanor Mayer; Planning and Zoning Commission, James J. Boyland
and Stephen L. Koch; P&Z alternate, Robert G. Taylor; Police Commission, James
P. Reilly; Zoning Board of Appeals, Charles E. Annett, III, and Richard H.
Kessler, Jr; ZBA alternates Timothy Cronin and Patrick Mullins.