Rory Burke, Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller’s administrative assistant, won a seat on the Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday, but won’t be able to serve because he’s a town employee.
Shortly after Burke topped a field of four candidates for the commission with 2,141 votes, Miller said that Republicans were mistaken in a previous interpretation that it was OK for Burke to serve in both roles.
“We thought (the conflict) applied only to selectmen and the board of finance,” Miller said. “But apparently the planning commission is covered, too.”
Miller said it’s very unlikely that he would resign his paid position as Miller’s right-hand man in order to serve on the volunteer board.
He had high praise for the job Burke has done as administrative assistant, and said that he would make an excellent “candidate for first selectman himself some day.”
Prior to starting work as administrative assistant three years ago, Burke was an IT volunteer with the Peace Corps.
Four candidates were competing for three four-year terms on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Burke was top vote-getter with 2,136 votes, followed by fellow Republican Walter Birdsell, 1,978, and Democrat Gary Vasas, 1,364.
An unofficial vote tally at Republicans’ victory party had incumbent Democrat Joseph Ziehl narrowly losing his seat with 1,327 votes.
Republican Jake Holly, currently an alternate on the commission, was unopposed in his bid to fill a vacant two-year term.
