This Year’s School Board Election Will Have Contested Seats

By Steve Bigham

The Board of Education in Newtown has always been divided evenly between Democrats and Republicans. There has been an informal agreement between the parties that each party have the same number of representatives on the board – three apiece.

However, the town charter does not require this. It simply states that no single political party can have more than three members on the board.

And since there have always been just two political parties in town, both have consistently opted to simply put up three candidates each election year. Party leaders have stated that they try to avoid politics coming into play on the school board, although they claim to be open to putting up multiple candidates if the right ones come along.

Newtown saw its first and only race for the Board of Education back in 1993 when fellow Republicans Joe Borst and Isabelle Murray were both nominated at the July caucus. The close race ended with Mrs Murray winning by a single vote.

This year, it appears that Newtown voters will once again get a choice in the race for the Board of Education. Last week, Barry Piesner’s NICE Party unveiled the names of Robin Fitzgerald and Jay Higham, two newcomers who say they too would like a shot at a seat on the school board. To get there, they’ll have to beat incumbent Republican Elaine McClure and Democrat incumbents Lisa Schwartz and Margaret Hull.

Mr Borst, a current member of the Legislative Council, said he supports the idea of having a race for the Board of Education.

“I have no problem with what [Mr Piesner] is doing. If nothing else, this will pique the interest of the voters. They’re really going to have to start thinking about who they’re voting for.”

Wendy Beres, who was passed over by the Republicans for school board nomination this year, hailed the idea of giving voters a choice.

“That’s wonderful. It’s about time. The Republican and Democratic parties – unless they’re forced to put a second candidate up – will never put up a second candidate,” she said.

In the past, party leaders and school board members have defended the system of allowing a small number of people on the executive and nominating committees of the two town committees to hand pick candidates to run without opposition, saying they want to keep the school board “non-political.”

Joe Borst is believed to be the only person in recent history ever to lose a race for the Board of Education in Newtown. Come November 6, two others will join him.