The top of the ticket for the Seymour GOP. Republican incumbents on the Board of Selectmen Al Bruno and Annmarie Drugonis with First Selectman Kurt Miller and Republican Board of Selectmen candidate Trisha Danka.
The biggest surprise of the Seymour Republican Town Committee’s nominating convention Monday?
No one gave a speech supporting Kurt Miller’s bid for a fourth — and final? — term as First Selectman.
It wasn’t that he lacked support. It’s just that he’s unbeatable — at least as of July 24, 2017.
But this isn’t really a butt-kissing biased story. The simple fact of the matter is the guy doesn’t have an opponent in November.
Democrats met last week and picked a slate of candidates. They left the First Selectman’s spot open. This isn’t to say the Democrats are incompetent. Their candidates for other office include accomplished people such as Karen and Fred Stanek, and up-and-comer Stephan Behuniak.
But in the Seymour political realm, Miller’s First Selectman spot right now is essentially Mike Tyson after Iron Mike decimated former light heavyweight champ Michael Spinks in 1988 — but before he derailed his boxing career by losing to Buster Douglas two years later.
In 2011, Miller defeated Democrat Paul Roy, who had scored an upset victory in a Republican town over veteran GOP First Selectman Robert Koskelowski.
But Miller — who is almost obsessive in his habit of mentioning fund balances, debt ratios and strategic plans to reporters — faced no serious opposition just two years later.
Then, in 2015, he defeated 23-year-old Zani Imetovski by about 1,200 votes.
And, after being nominated Monday for a fourth term in front of about 30 fellow Republicans at the Seymour Community Center on Pine Street, he joked with a reporter on his way to make an off-the-cuff speech, even sticking his tongue out playfully while “the press” snapped a photo.
“(The Valley Indy) hasn’t been in Seymour in six months,” he said.
Miller began his acceptance speech by thanking the people in the room — the backbone to his success in Seymour.
“We won’t have an opponent again in this (election),” Miller said. “I think that’s a testament to all the people in this room (and) the success we’ve achieved over the last six years. And we’ve done that together.”
Though Miller has no opponent, he acknowledged the Democrats in Seymour are not tired has-beens. Quite the contrary, he said.
“(It) doesn’t mean we are getting a free pass. The Democrats are young and and they’re hungry and they have a lot of new people, so we are going to need to make sure that we get out and bang a lot of doors to make sure that we continue to put our message forward to the people,” Miller said. “And that is that we’re going to be fiscally conservative. We’re going to take care of the town’s finances, and we’re going to continue to move the town forward.”
In his speech, Miller said his fourth term is probably his final term — but he’s said that twice before.
State politics often call to Seymour politicians.
Nicole Klarides-Ditria was Miller’s deputy first selectwoman before being elected to represent Seymour and parts of Derby in Hartford.
Theresa Conroy was a member of the Board of Selectmen who served on the state level, as was Len Greene.
Miller is currently involved with Shelton Mayor’s Mark Lauretti’s bid to become governor.
After Monday’s nominating convention, Miller said higher office isn’t out of the question after his next term.
“I’ve been approached but I haven’t made any decisions yet,” he said.
Here is the slate, as voted upon unanimously by members of the Seymour Town Republican Committee:
First Selectman
Kurt Miller
Board of Selectmen
Len Greene
Al Bruno
Annmarie Drugonis
Trisha Danka
Board of Finance
Beverly Kennedy
Richard Demko
Board of Finance Alternate
Gary Popieasz
Robert Pagliaro
Board of Education
Peter kubik
Ed Hendricks
Christopher Champagne
Board of Police Commissioners
Robert Koskelowski Sr.
Planning and Zoning
Joe Ziehl
Tom Lavranchuk
Joe Niezelski
Board of Assessment Appeals
Bruce Baker
Chris Drugonis
Library Board
Joyce Koslowski
Paula Chapla
