The Oxford Republican Town Committee Thursday endorsed David Yish as candidate for First Selectman.
Yish will be running with Lila Ferillo, the chairwoman of the Oxford Board of Finance.
The endorsements happened at a special meeting of the GOP committee.
Yish is a first-term member of the Oxford Board of Selectmen. He is the only Republican on the three-member board.
Republican George Temple has already announced his intent to seek the Republican nomination.
Yish said Friday he and Temple talked, at length, about running together, with Temple running for First Selectman and Yish trying for a Selectman seat.
“In the end, we just didn’t have the chemistry,” Yish said. “I took some time and thought about to do. I contemplated stepping down. In the end, I decided I have something to offer to the town.”
Yish said he and Temple differed on some policy issues facing Oxford, but Yish declined to elaborate.
“I have a lot to offer. The first term I’ve served (on the Board of Selectmen) was rewarding, certainly, but a little bit of a challenge because I’m the minority Selectmen,” Yish said. His status on the board has prevented him from pushing initiatives.
Politics in Oxford has been marked with a mean streak between the Democrats and the Republicans. Personal attacks are common.
“One of the hallmarks of my first term was to try to take the rancor and the edge off the politics in Oxford to some degree,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I was entirely successful there. It’s been a crazy two years.”
Yish is a 1985 graduate of Seymour High School. He’s lived in Oxford for most of his life. He’s worked for more than 20 years at Naiad Dynamics in Shelton.
He said Oxford’s affordable housing policy is a top issue.
The town is currently seeking to create “incentive housing overlay zones,” possibly along the Route 67 corridor. The designation could promote the construction of houses, condos or town houses that would be sold below market rate.
Yish said any affordable housing should be built as single-family residences so as not to overwhelm the town’s resources and school system.
In addition, Yish said Oxford should be lobbying its state representatives in Hartford to change a state affordable housing law that gives developers leverage over local planning and zoning boards.
Yish said the town also has to find a way to provide quality athletic fields at Oxford High School without breaking the bank.
Republicans in Oxford are scheduled to have a nominating convention 7:30 p.m. on July 19 at Oxford Town Hall.
Yish will walk in as the candidate endorsed by the GOP Town Committee. Temple will probably be nominated from the floor, but the caucus vote will decide who will receive the official Republican endorsement.
Members of both campaigns expect there to be a Republican primary this year, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming caucus.
Team Temple Reacts
Temple and his running mate, Jeff Haney, could not be reached for comment Friday.
However, Blake Denham, Temple’s campaign manager, said Temple will receive more votes at the upcoming GOP caucus.
“I didn’t think that George was going to be a shoe-in, nor do I think anybody is going to be,” Denham said. “If George does exceptionally well at the caucus, which I’m expecting, I’m wondering if Mr. Yish will have the gusto to go for a primary.”
Denham said Temple is an independent thinker.
“I haven’t entered too many fights I didn’t think I’d come out victorious, and this will extend my streak,” Denham said. “George brings credibility and integrity — not necessarily doing what’s good for the Republicans or the Democrats, but what’s good for the people of Oxford who will elect George Temple to be their next First Selectman.”
Ferrillo Has Experience
Ferrillo has been on the Oxford Board of Finance for six years. Her seat on the finance board does not come up for re-election for another two years.
She told the Valley Indy last month she didn’t plan to run for a Selectmen’s seat.
“When I said I wasn’t running a few weeks ago I meant it, but David Yish decided to run for First Selectman and things change. I think I can help this town,” said Ferrillo, who works as a hairdresser for senior citizens at Wesley Heights in Shelton.
Ferrillo said her experience dealing with Oxford’s budget on the finance board make her a strong candidate for the Board of Selectmen. She also said she respects Yish for the way he has conducted himself on the Board of Selectmen.
“Dave Yish has been there two years as the top-seeded Republican and I feel that we owe him something for being there. It’s hard when you’re the minority on the board. You don’t always get heard. You have to compromise a lot. He’s held up through a lot of things despite that,” she said.
Ferrillo said she has no hard feelings toward Temple, but believes Yish would make a better First Selectman.
The Dems
First Selectwoman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers, a Democrat, is not seeking another term in office.
The Democratic Town Committee is endorsing Joseph Calabrese for First Selectman. He is running with Dave McKane, a current member of the Board of Selectmen.
The Dems are scheduled to hold a nominating convention 7 p.m. July 25 at Oxford Town Hall.
