GOP Hoists Carney To The Head Of Its Ticket

By Steve Bigham

The Republicans officially kicked off the 2001 election season Monday night as they unveiled their slate of candidates at an hour-long caucus at the multi-purpose center in Sandy Hook.

Heading the GOP ticket is 50-year-old first selectman candidate Owen Carney, a former captain in the Newtown Police Department. He is making his first venture into politics and hopes to pull off an upset defeat of incumbent first selectman Herb Rosenthal.

Mr Carney told supporters he planned to “pound the pavement” in an effort to meet as many Newtown residents as possible.

“Together we can do it. Together we can create a brighter future for Newtown and a clearer vision of the executive branch,” Mr Carney said. “Let’s get out there and win this election.”

Julia Wasserman said she’s known Mr Carney for some 30 years and can think of no first selectman candidate who is more honest and honorable. Still, she acknowledged, it will be an “uphill struggle” to beat the current administration.

Mr Carney will be running alongside Republican selectman Bill Brimmer, a four-year member of the Board of Selectmen, who sees potential for the Republicans to make some headway in this election.

“There’s a lot of unrest in this town and if you don’t believe me, read The Newtown Bee. Read the letters page,” he said. “There are a lot of people out there who are wondering if they are going to be able to continue to live in Newtown, especially with taxes going up and up. We want to keep the people that we have here in Newtown, and I think Owen has the right kind of stuff to help us achieve that.”

Several new names have popped up on the Republican Legislative Council slate, especially with Doug Brennan, John Kortze, and Pierre Rochman choosing not to seek reelection. The candidates nominated from District 1 are Joseph DiCandido, Michael J. Iassogna, and William F. Meyer. Nominated from District 2 were Republicans Joseph E. Borst (incumbent), Patrick M. Mullins, and Andrew Buzzi. District 3 candidates nominated are incumbents William F.L. Rodgers, Donald T. Studley, and Brian C. White.

Mr DiCandido owns a successful business in New Milford and currently chairs the board of directors of the Military Museum of Southern New England in Danbury. Mr Mullins, a former member of the ZBA, is an attorney in Hartford. Mr Iassogna is director of Kendro Labs in Newtown, while Mr Meyer, a longtime resident, previously served on both the council and the Police Commission. Andrew Buzzi, an attorney, is vice chairman of the Republican Town Committee and currently serves on the Public Building & Site Commission. He just missed getting elected to the council two years ago.

Mr Rodgers, a local attorney, seeks reelection to his third term on the council, where he serves as chairman of the Ordinance Committee. Mr Borst, retired from Sikorsky, heads up the council’s education committee, while Mr Studley and Mr White, both CPAs, are key members of the council’s finance committee.

“Any way you slice it, it’s going to be a changed council, and I hope it’s a change for the better,” Mr Rodgers said.

Town Clerk Cindy Simon was nominated for the eighth time and said the support she gets still gives her a thrill. She is believed to have lived in town longer than any of the other Republican candidates… 52 years. The Democrats were not expected to contest the town clerk’s seat.

Elaine McClure was also nominated to return to her post on the Board of Education, where, a few years ago, she became the first Republican school board chair in Newtown in 28 years. At least one other Republican had expressed interest in running for the school board; however, the Republicans (and Democrats) opted to avoid a contest for any of those seats. In the past, party leaders have said they have been unable to put up multiple candidates simply because they did not have enough interested candidates. (The Board of Education in Newtown has an equal number of Republicans and Democrats.)

“The Republicans like to put forth the most qualified candidates and we think that Elaine McClure is the most qualified,” GOP Town Committee Chair Marie Sturdevant said later.

David Browne was nominated to return to the Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers where he has brought a sense of “fiscal ingenuity,” according to fellow member Sandra Motyka.

Planning & Zoning Commission Chairman Daniel Fogliano was nominated to return to his seat, while longtime Newtown Republican Barbara O’Connor was nominated for the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). Mrs O’Connor previously served for many years on the Parks & Recreation Commission.

Also nominated for ZBA alternate positions were incumbents Timothy Cronin and William O’Neil.

Carol Mattegat was nominated to return to the Police Commission, where she has served for the past 12 years.

“I’m so proud of this slate,” Mrs Sturdevant said. “I’m very pleased to have so many new people interested in serving the community. We’re looking forward to the campaign. We’re going to start rallying round now and getting things going.”

Mr Carney announced his plan to run for first selectman this past spring, saying the current government has been too “closed and secretive” about what it plans to do with Fairfield Hills.

Mrs Sturdevant hailed her party’s candidate as a great man for the job. “I think the town is ready for a change. Owen is fiscally responsible, has management skills, and he knows the town. He knows everybody and he has a lot of support,” she said.

Mr Carney, who lives with his wife, Sue, and two children, Mike, 10, and Lauren, 8, along Berkshire Road, served on the Republican Town Committee during the 1980s.

Mr Carney moved to Newtown in 1972 soon after landing a job with the police department, where he spent the next 27 years. During that time, Mr Carney earned a reputation for his no-nonsense, thoughtful approach and quickly moved up the ranks from patrolman to sergeant to youth officer to head detective and finally to captain, a position which is also considered the department’s deputy chief. As a captain, Mr Carney worked in the areas of budgeting, scheduling, hiring, and long-term planning.

Quieter than the typical politician, Mr Carney says he’ll focus on honesty and openness over political rhetoric. He believes his experiences in police work will help him be a good first selectman. “I don’t say I’m going to do something if I’m not going to do it. I always try to follow through on promises. If I can’t help someone, I’m not going to say ‘I’ll see what I can do.’ You learn the hard way in [the police field] not to make promises.”

Mr Carney becomes the Republicans’ first candidate for first selectman since Russ Melita ran for the office back in 1997. Mr Melita went on to lose to Mr Rosenthal, who was reelected to office in 1999 when he ran unopposed. The Republicans took some flak for not running a candidate and vowed to never let that happen again.

“I think we have a great candidate. We’re out there to win,” Mrs Sturdevant said.

Mr Carney had been a member of the town’s Charter Revision Commission before stepping down soon after announcing his bid to run. He is also an active member of the Newtown Congregational Church, and is involved in the Hiram Lodge No 18 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Sandy Hook.

His campaign managers are Andy Willie and Joe McGowan.