Peter Bunzl, chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, is stepping down after serving five years as the committee’s leader.
Bunzl additionally resigned as the committee’s treasurer, but said he will continue to support the DTC and offer advice when asked.
Bunzl, 67, said in an e-mail to the Valley Independent Sentinel Wednesday he hopes to spend his time taking care of his health and visiting his children who live throughout the country.
“I decided that it was time for me to return to some anonymity,” Bunzl said.
Bunzl said he is proud of his work and grateful for the relationships he established on the committee.
“We ran successful fundraisers and worked hard to improve the town we all live in,” he said. “I feel privileged to have met many of the wonderful people that live in Oxford.”
Gary Komar, vice-chairman of the DTC, is serving as chairman on an interim basis until the committee’s caucus in March to elect new officers.
Komar, who was co-chairman of First Selectwoman Mary Ann Drayton-Roger’s re-election campaign, said Bunzl’s excellent leadership skills led to a hard fought victory for the Democrats in the First Selectman race.
“Peter was the universal guy, working the phones, helping with walking routes and putting up signs,” he said. “He worked very hard on this campaign.”
The next DTC meeting is scheduled for March 11.
Tom Kelly, the chairman of the Republican Town Committee, also stepped down recently.
Good luck to Mr. Bunzl, any one who volunteers their time for the town should be commended no matter what your opinion of their politics.
Mr Komar should stay on as chairman that would be another boom for Oxford.
I guess the scandal in Oxford and the Democrats poor performance in the November election would be time for anyone to call it quits.
I heard the same thing about Tom Kelly. The embarrassing loss by Haversat (when people were assuring him he would win) and the RTC’s feelings about Kelly as a leader were just too much pressure on him to continue.
Just look at what happened at the RTC’s Caucus
– a big fight with people yelling at each other
– people blaming each other for Haversat’s loss
– dissension on the floor
– people fighting about who does what for the party
– Haversat withdrawing his name and not wanting to be a part of the RTC anymore
– Kelly quitting
– Palmer and his people grabbing control once again (sounds like Row A vs Row B again)
Yes, Republicans won a majority of the seats in November, so its now time for them to show what they can do differently. So far, nothing has changed and it seems as if the Committees they control are now operating less efficiently then before.
The Republicans were putting all of their money into Haversat winning and guess what, he lost because people do not trust the LEADERSHIP of the Republicans and that is why Kelly quit.
“not again,” Bunzl gave his notice in December, way before this latest scandal, nice try. Maybe next time you can get your facts straight before posting, it’s obvious you’ll miss him!
Huh, that’s funny. I spoke with Haversat about two weeks before the election and his words it going to be real close and no matter what happened he hoped the BOE, BOF and P&Z would ride to victory and they did with the vigor of Haversat and his running mate Yish. You call that embarrassing?
Never was nuts about Palmer, and while I could not attend the Republican Caucus because of my Party Affiliation, Voices article summed it up and Haversat mad a statement and said no more negativity from the Palmer supporters, now that sounds like leadership and I heard David Yish did the same. Congrats….
Mary Ann Drayton Rogers on the other hand and weak leadership from the Democratic Party tip toe around every issue and they are besides themselves as this unfortunate scandal rocks Oxford to the Core. Funny how their new chairman Komar writes in a third person that “Komar” should stay. Nothing like giving yourself a pat on the back huh.
Funny how no news other than old news came out of the Dem’s caucus. It was known that Mr. Bunzl was leaving why before. They had a hard time filling their slate in November and had to beg for candidates to come on board. They did not even endorse their own on the the ticket and went for the Republican throw aways. Now that’s a party that believes in itself (not)Do you even have the membership to fill your committee seats? Rogers and McKane at the top are the blind leading the blind
no vision and no confidence from the Oxford citizens.
Yes it is embarrassing for Haversat and the Republicans. All of the RTC’s advertising, with the exception of a few pieces, were all about Haversat and Yish. For all of the money to have been spent on this race by the State Republicans to get Haversat elected and then he lost, that is truly embarrassing. This loss shows that the residents of Oxford do not trust the leaders of the RTC, but are willing to give their underlings a chance.
And since his loss, Haversat has been nowhere to be seen. He doesn’t show up to meetings anymore, he fights with his fellow Republicans, and he has gone into hiding.
The RTC is back to their “old” politics and it is going to hurt them. Palmer once again took control of the Caucus and got himself back on when nobody wanted him and now his stigma will continue to be attached to the RTC in Oxford.
Palmer is a joke and so is the RTC and that is why Mary Ann and Dave McKane won in November because residents believe in them more then anyone the RTC can put forward.
Hmmm that’s funny; David Haversat and David Yish were both at the last Board of Education meeting I attended. And checking recent posting of on-line minutes Haversat is in attendance at meetings. Strange how crazyinoxford is so out of touch while being so “involved” with Oxford?
And I wonder how embarrassed Mary Ann Drayon Rogers must be when she as an incumbent only won by less than 30 votes and her entire under-ticket went down like an avalanche, losing by hundreds of votes. The facts the democrats spent more in the history of Oxford (look up filings on-line) and could barley muster a win. I understand from attending the Democratic Party functions and speaking with numerous upset dems, many members of the under ticket were very upset with the lack of leadership and funding they received, every thing was Mary Ann, Mary Ann. I’m sure Buzl was pressured to resign after a much failed campaign. And speaking of Money, I hope Drayton Rogers and McKane have enough courage to give back the large sum money from the tax collector’s donation to the democrat’s campaign.
“CrazyinOxford” your username fits you quite well. You couldn’t come up for a better name for yourself. The only thing “CrazyinOxford” can do is make misstatements. I hope people from other towms don’t read the Oxford forum as you are truly an embarrasement to his forum.
I think that again the point of the discussion should be a Thank you to anyone who gets involved in our town.. When you do that you put yourself and your family out there. You risk the attacks and comments from people of differing opinions. I continue to be amazed to see the attacks and negativity in the Oxford forums. I have read the post from other towns and NEVER see the nasty comments.
Get the facts.. decide for yourself and think about the fact that these people you are speaking of are someone’s mom, dad or family member.
Misstatements? Prove to me I am wrong, point-by-point.
– Pre-Election – Haversat attended BOE, BOS, and BOF meetings.
– Post-Election – Haversat has not attended ANY of the meetings. The ONLY meetings he’s attended are the ones he is Chairman of, which is the Oil Spill Committee.
– People fought at the Republican Caucus, Haversat withdrew his name, and left.
– Tom Kelly quit as Chairman of the RTC
– Palmer and his group wrestled control of the RTC once again at the Republican Caucus.
These are the statements I made, so which are wrong? Prove it if you can with facts!
A win is a win, whether it is by 1,000 votes, 100 votes, or 1 vote. A win means more people wanted you then the other person and Haversat lost, so the only person who should be embarrassed is Haversat and the RTC because they thought they had it in the bag.
Peter Bunzl brought the Democratic Party down. Komar would do no better. He lost the underticket to the Republicans and barely re-elected the 1st selectman.