The Democratic Town Committee endorsed incumbent First Selectwoman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers and Selectman Dave McKane along with a slate of 19 candidates for various boards and commissions Wednesday night at Town Hall.
Democratic Town Committee member Jim Lyons called Drayton-Rogers an honest and competent leader, noting that she faces her daily responsibilities focused on what is good for the town in a bipartisan manner.
“She does not sweep things under the rug, and she faces challenges head on and that is what we deserve in a leader, he said.
With tears in her eyes, Drayton-Rogers opened her acceptance speech before her fellow democrats honoring her friend and neighbor, Hal Walker, who’s funeral she had attended just hours before the caucus.
Drayton-Rogers said Walker was responsible introducing her to Oxford politics more than three decades ago and noted the importance of new members to the party in attendance.
“We have new candidates that are going forward with us and I think it is fantastic that our party is showing growth and strength through their involvement,” she said.
Rogers said that her administration worked tirelessly through the worst economic downturn, unfounded political issues and negativism from the opposition.
Rogers stressed in her second term, she would continue to build an economic balance between residential, commercial and industrial tax bases and present fair and honest budgets while continuing to work cooperatively with all boards and commissions.
“We will remain flexible but firm and face the good economic conditions or the bad,” she said. “We’ll continue to represent the ideas you bring to us.”
Selectman Dave McKane said even though he is running for his fifth term, “it never gets old.”
“It is not about power or politics, it is about doing what is in your heart,” he said.
Democratic Town Committee Chairman Peter Bunzl feels certain that the candidates for the boards and commissions would be an asset to the community based on their background and experience.
“They are all great candidates, and I am confident that we are going to do very well in November,” he said.
Election day is Tuesday, November 3.
Oxford Democrats nominated the following candidates:
First Selectman
Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers
Board of Selectmen
Dave McKane
Town Clerk
Margaret Potts-West
Treasurer
Kathy Johnson
Board of Education
Debbie Sherman
Paula Guillet
Lisa Hellauer
Ted Oskowski
Kevin Reid
Becky Piorek (Two year-term)
Maria Alter (Two year-term)
Board of Finance
Jim Murphy
Al Benoit
Joe Kutniewski
Planning and Zoning Commission
Joe Kidd
Bill Johnson
Robert Zavalko
Peter Bunzl
Zoning Board of Appeals
Angela Skyers
Jesse Burrows
Assessment Appeals
Jean Shuster
