SEYMOUR — Welcome to the 2023 Seymour Election Guide!
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7.
For the second time in this publication’s 13-year history, every candidate for local office in Ansonia, Derby and Seymour was given the chance to share information about themselves and their candidacies with the public through The Valley Indy.
This year we posted a Google form, and used email to reach out to every political party leader and top-of-the-ticket candidate to ask them to spread the word about the form. Those emails were sent in the first week of October, with a deadline of Oct. 24 — though the form was still accepting answers until the morning of Oct. 31.
We published all the responses we received below.
To learn more about the slates …
Click here for the Seymour Democrats’ Facebook page.
Click here for the Seymour GOP page.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Click here to double check your polling place.
Click here for a Seymour sample ballot.
Click here for information from the secretary of state on everything from absentee ballots to Election Day registration information.
Click here to check out the Seymour Registrars’ page.
FIRST SELECTMAN
Drugonis
Annmarie Drugonis
– 54
– Office sought: First Selectwoman
– Party: Republican
– Years in town: 19
– Profession: Current First Selectwoman
– Prior elected office: Board of Selectpersons, First Selectwoman
– Affiliations: Lions Club, Shelton Exchange Club
– Why are you running?
“When I moved to Seymour nineteen years ago with my family, it was because Seymour was a great place to raise my daughter. I wanted to show her how important it was to be an active part of the community and to volunteer time to help make it a better place. This has been my primary focus while serving our community on various boards and commissions over the past seventeen years. I am running to be re-elected as your First Selectwoman to continue the example that I set for my daughter while working on improving the quality of life for all Seymour residents. A few examples of improvements to our community while I have served as your First Selectwoman include the construction of a Dog Park, the expansion of programs for our senior residents, and the construction of an outdoor pickle ball court at French Park. We are also partnering with the Housatonic Council Boy Scouts of America and local businesses to help facilitate a new summer camp in Seymour, hopefully coming later next year.
My administration has obtained federal and state grants to improve many of our roads, obtain technology for our schools, including interactive touch screens in all of our classrooms, and purchase and install license plate readers, a message board trailer, and Star Chase GPS for the Police Department. We received over $50,000.00 in overtime reimbursement for Distracted Driving. Other grants that have been obtained focused on updating the Community Center building, as well as new program offerings. In addition, we have partnered with the Council of Governments to receive funding to remove Kinneytown Dam, which will allow the natural migration of fish and open the river to fishing, canoeing, and other activities.
These are just a few of the improvements we have made to our Town at no direct cost to the taxpayers, and which will have a significant positive impact on the quality of life in our community. Improving the quality of life makes Seymour more attractive to potential businesses, as well as entices existing businesses such as Emery Winslow Scale, Contractor Nation, Thule, and Microboard Processing, to name a few, to continue to invest in Seymour. This is a win for the taxpayers and our community as a whole. My administration has facilitated the addition of twelve new businesses to our town and the revitalization of the buildings they occupy. Economic development will continue to be a priority in my next term so that we can maximize improvement initiatives while minimizing the impact on taxpayers.
We have worked to keep taxes low and streamline government. We have made government open and responsive to all. We have provided the resources needed by the schools to remain competitive. We have funded the police and fire departments to make our community safe. We have improved our roads and infrastructure.
Seymour is a special place, and I will work tirelessly to make it a community that we all continue to call our home.”
– What do you hope to accomplish?
“I am proud of what my team and I have accomplished over the last three years. Should I have the opportunity to serve our great town again, we will continue to improve our quality of life while growing our grand list, reducing our environmental footprint while keeping Seymour the charming town it is.”
Wilhelmy III (right)
Philip Wilhelmy III
– 60
– Office sought: Seymour First Selectman
– Party: Democrat
– Years in town: 60
– Prior elected office: Board of Selectmen
– Affiliations: Chairman of the Seymour Democratic Town Committee
– Why are you running for office?
“Choice.”
– What do you hope to accomplish?
“Transparency in town hall.”
BOARD OF SELECTPERSONS
Conroy
Theresa Conroy
– 66
– Office sought: Board of Selectpersons
– Party: Democrat
– Years in town: 65
– Profession: APRN-Retired
– Prior elected office: CT State Representative, Seymour Board of Selectmen
– Affiliations: Seymour Democratic Town Committee, Seymour Historical Society, Seymour Lions Club; Past: Seymour Pink(board), Seymour Pumpkin Festival (president), Seymour Zoning Board of Appeals (chair), Seymour Land Trust, Chatfield School PTA (president)
– Why are you running?
“I have watched our town become stagnant over the past decade with little economic growth, as neighboring towns are booming. Our taxes continue to increase and our local town budget has become bloated with many added positions that have not yielded any return on our investment. I would like to work to help Seymour become all that it can be and ensure that we are good fiscal stewards of our residents tax money. This needs to be fully transparent so that residents know what is going on in our town.”
– What do you hope to accomplish?
“As a visionary leader, I know the importance of prioritizing and planning for growth of our community. My previous roles have shown that I am able to collaborate and compromise to ensure that there is a positive outcome. A few examples would include securing funding for the construction of Chatfield-LoPresti School and funding for the Seymour High School athletic fields. Seymour has much potential. My priorities would be to increase our economic base to help offset our high taxes, to improve playgrounds in Seymour for our children, including the addition of splash pads and better upkeep of the parks that we currently have. I would work to ensure that our neighbors with limited incomes are getting all the help that they need, including their food needs. I would like to see better use of our downtown area and help bring vitality to it and also explore opportunities to use features of the Naugatuck River for recreational use.”
Danka
Trisha Danka
– 52
– Office sought: Board of Selectpersons
– Party: Republican
– Years in town: 27
– Profession: former M&T Bank Assistant Vice President & Manager, Mortgage Department
– Prior elected office: Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance
– Affiliations: Seymour Strategic Planning
– Why are you running?
“I am running to give back to the community where I live. I want to share what I know with residents when they have questions and also provide a voice when concerns are shared. I make decisions using a balanced view of both the town’s and residents’ needs and believe in a long-term view so that decisions are made responsibly.”
– What do you hope to accomplish?
“I want to continue ensuring we keep a long-term view on the Board of Selectmen, and also work together to attain our goals. Through common sense discussion and being willing to ask questions we can find compromise to keep things moving forward. I want to see the slow-progression of Tri-Town Plaza through to completion, although only some things are within the town’s control (but those few things can keep the pressure on or stall any progress completely). I want to ensure Seymour continues to support a ten-year strategic plan, incorporating it into our government’s culture as it is fiscally responsible and relevant to ensure we are proactive instead of reactive. I want to continue looking at ways Seymour can boost its economic development, working within the confines of Seymour not owning any property. I want to listen and share wherever I am able in order to represent all of the voices in Seymour.”
Thomas LaPaglia
– 79
– Office sought: Board of Selectpersons
– Party: Democrat
– Years in town: 55
– Prior elected office: registrar of voters and assessment appeals
– Profession: retired
– Affiliations: Board of public works and Livable communities
– Why are you running?
“It’s my civic duty to volunteer some of my time to the community.”
Lombardi
Patrick Lombardi
– Office sought: Board of Selectpersons
– Party: Republican
– Years in town: 46
– Prior elected office: Former Deputy Firstselectman 6 years. I have also served on several boards and commissions spanning over 25 years. In additional to being a member of the current Board of Selectpersons I am Chairman of the Seymour Public Works Department.
– Affiliations: I am a 43 year member of the Seymour Fire Department and have held many positions including the management positions of Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Commissioner. Along with my family we are actively involved in raising individual contributions for Seymour Pink.
– Why are you running?
“I am running for re-election on the Board of Selectpersons. Having lived here for the past 46 years, I am a homeowner and parent/grandparent and I want to keep this town a great place to live and raise a family. My community service has made me an effective board member and I will continue to work hard to make sure your voice is heard ensuring that Seymour moves forward.”
Stanek
Fred Stanek
– 69
– Office sought: Board of Selectpersons
– Party: Democrat
– Years in town: 69 years
– Profession: attorney at law
– Prior elected office: Board of Education(1989 — 2021): held the positions of Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary; Board of Selectpersons(1983 — 1985 and 2023 to present); Board of Library Directors(1981 — 1983)
– Affiliations: Member, Griffin Health Services Board of Directors; Trustee, Griffin Hospital; Member, The Griffin Hospital Development Fund, Inc.; Seymour High School Alumni Association (Vice President); Seymour Democratic Town Committee
– What do you hope to accomplish?
“Continue working toward: greater economic development in order to provide adequate financing of the Seymour Public Schools and to provide a reasonable and affordable municipal tax rate for all residents; expanded recreational opportunities for everyone such as allowing the High School pool, under the management of the Community Center, to be used by the public when not in use by the High School swim teams or other organized swim groups; continued review of all governmental functions to reduce costs and therefore control tax increases; undertake a review of the Seymour Town Charter to streamline government and to be sure our local government functions in accordance with a revised and strong Charter; support our emergency services; and in all ways work toward maintaining Seymour as a great place to raise a family and to enjoy retirement years.”
BOARD OF FINANCE
James Cretella
– 63
– Office sought: Board of Finance
– Party: Republican
– Years in town: 35
– Profession: Mechanic for Aquarion Water Co.
– Prior elected office: Seymour Board of Finance
– Why are you running?
“To make Seymour a better place to live.”
– What do you want to accomplish?
“Keep taxes stable.”
Niezelski
Joseph M. Niezelski
– 41
– Office sought: Seymour Board of Finance
– Party: Democrat
– Years in town: 41
– Profession: Systems Administrator
– Prior elected office: none
– Why are you running?
“I am running for the Board of Finance out of a deep commitment to Seymour and its residents. It is vital for our town, like any healthy democracy, to have diverse choices during elections. I believe Seymour’s strength lies in its people and their varied views. By stepping up to run, I hope to reinforce the belief that every Seymour election should present genuine choices for its residents. I’m dedicated to fostering an environment where all opinions are valued, and every resident feels their voice can be heard.”
– What do you want to accomplish?
As a member of the Board of Finance, my foremost priority will be to ensure that every financial decision made aligns with the needs and aspirations of Seymour’s residents. I want to:
Promote Transparency: It’s essential that our community is well-informed about where and how funds are allocated. Open dialogue and clear communication will build trust between the board and our residents.
Foster Collaborative Decision-Making: I believe in a cooperative approach where board members work together, drawing from their diverse backgrounds and perspectives, to make the best decisions for Seymour.
Prioritize Long-Term Growth and Stability: While addressing immediate needs is crucial, it’s equally important to strategically plan for Seymour’s future, ensuring we remain a prosperous and vibrant community for generations to come.
Engage the Community: I aim to create more opportunities for residents to voice their opinions on financial matters, ensuring that our strategies and actions resonate with the community’s desires and values.
Peck
Bettyann Peck
– Office sought: Seymour Board of Finance
– Party: Republican
– Years in town: 20 plus
– Profession: Kitchen Design and Renovation
– Prior elected office: Seymour Board of Finance
– Affiliations: Very active member in Seymour Lions Club, Lions International, District 53 Program Quality Director for Toastmasters International, Park City Toastmasters Club, New England Advanced Toastmasters Club, World Travelers Toastmasters Club, National Kitchen & Bath Association, International Builders Association, Executive Committee Board Member of World Vision.
– Why are you running?
“I care greatly for the Town of Seymour and the best interests of all our citizens.”
– What do you hope to accomplish?
“Continue vetting out departments required to keep the town moving in a positive direction with well run services in a financially responsible approach.”
Bill Sawicki
– Office sought: Board of Finance
– Party: Democrat
– Years in town: lifelong
– Profession: auditor
– Prior elected office: 14 years, Seymour Board of Finance
– Affiliations: Member — Parish Finance Council — St Nicholas Parish — Seymour, CT
– Why are you running?
“To continue the work of serving the community in the area of municipal finance.”
– What do you hope to accomplish?
“Continue to assist the Town in providing services while balancing the needs of the taxpayer.”
BOARD OF FINANCE ALTERNATE
Genevieve Friday Ard
– 60
– Office sought: Board of Finance alternate
– Party: Democrat
– Years in town: since 2009
– Profession: I hold a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate license, and am currently seeking employment in the Mental Health industry.
– Prior elected office: none
– Affiliations: I have been in the past, currently I am not involved with any group as I am putting all my efforts into finding employment in the Mental Health industry.
– Why are you running?
“Oh, this is an easy question that isn’t easily answered. I grew up in South Alabama during the Civil Rights Era, and looking at me you wouldn’t think I am anything other than White…and, you’d be wrong. My first European ancestor made landfall here in 1542 and he was a Spanish Moor, after that my family collected from the waves of migrants. Being mixed race in South Alabama in the 60s ain’t healthy for one, not even a little one. My dad took me to Republican Party events, my mom took me to Democrat Party events, and if you think that was contentious Mama was Auburn and Daddy was Alabama and I sat betwixt the pair. I saw some of the ugliest shenanigans coming from both sides growing up, and when I say it was ugly? Y’all can’t imagine the ugly. We moved to the Southside of Chicago on account my Daddy had his job take him there, and Chicago politics is more polite than South Alabama was. Why am I running today? The last few elections the Democratic ticket has been a bit vacant, and I know folks afear some of the things that have been going on these past few years in politics. I got the thickest of hides for the ugliest of reasons. I am a retired Petty Officer Frist Class, served twenty years in the US Navy, and our mission is if we see an issue, we take charge and carry out the plan of the day to safeguard the ship (in this case town) and ensure the mission (satisfying the needs of the citizenry) is met.”
– What do you hope to accomplish?
“As Seymour Alternate Board of Finance, honestly my main job would be to learn every aspect of the Seymour Board of Finance for that ‘just in case we got a spare in the wings’ (God forbid) eventuality. Currently, I am just an entertaining sounding board within the Seymour Democratic Town Committee. If you can imagine something happening, I may very well have seen it and cleaned up that mess. One such mess was my squadron gaining a new aircraft for Test & Evaluation and in the Navy I had to put together an acquisition plan onboarding the new type aircraft, resulting in purchasing over $3.5 million dollars in tools, aircraft specific equipment, and specialized support equipment in order to support the new aircraft. That acquisition plan was a bit extensive and had to go through several layers of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff and a Senate Select Subcommittee for approval, and experience like that is kind of rare from a Petty Officer First Class like me. So, if the coach taps me on the shoulder and says “Ard, you’re up, get in there and do your thing”, I’ll stretch my legs and get to work, but until that moment? I’ll be sitting quietly watching the Board of Finance and probably taking copious notes.”
Rappa
Tracy Rappa
– 63
– Office sought: Seymour Board of Finance alternate
– Party: Democrat
– Years in town: 50
– Profession: I recently retired in March of this year. Prior to my retirement I worked at Sikorsky Aircraft for 42 years. My whole career was spent in the Finance department managing over $1B of indirect expenses.
– Prior elected office: none
– Why are you running for office?
“I feel that my 42 years of Finance experience can be an asset to the town and the people of Seymour.”
– What do you hope to accomplish?
“I would like help the town mange spending and give the residents transparency into what goes into the budget and how the money is being spent.”
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Garofalo
James Garofolo
– 83
– Office sought: BOE
– Party: Democrat
– Years in town: 28
– Profession: retired
– Prior elected office: Seymour BOE, 16 years
– Affiliations: Democratic Town Committee, Seymour Historical Society, Seymour Board of Ethics
– Why are you running?
“As a retired educator of 50 years, I have experience and background to provide positive contributions to our local school district.”
– What do you want to accomplish?
“I want to continue to work with district administration to maintain affordable quality programs and excellence within the Seymour schools.”
BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS
Atterberry
Kevin J. Atterberry
– 39
– Office sought: Board of Assessment Appeals
– Party: Democrat
– Prior elected office: none
– Years in town: 2
– Profession: web developer
– Affiliations: “I’m a board member for a children’s grief counseling center called Adam’s House. I’m also a board member for Valley Shakespeare Foundation which puts on free plays every year in Shelton and Oxford. I’m a member of All in for Seymour and the chair of the Seymour/Oxford Juneteenth celebration. Last years celebration was held in Oxford but next years celebration will take place at the Seymour recreational center on June 15th. I’m the chair for the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce Technology council. I’m a 2023 recipient of the Westfair Business Journals 40 under Award.”
– Why are you running for office?
– “I’m running for office because I want to get more involved in the community. Since moving to Seymour I’ve met a lot of amazing people and have been involved in so many great community events. After speaking with someone who has a lot of experience on the board of assessment appeals I felt like this was a good starting point for me to get involved in local government. I’ve heard complaints from people that some current members have not been showing up to meetings and not reading all the information presented to them which I think is unacceptable. I give 100% effort in everything I do and would love to make sure the board of assessment appeals is operating at it’s very best.”
– What do you hope to accomplish?
– “I want to make sure myself and the other elected members of the board of assessment appeals are showing up and doing their job to the best of their ability. I want to make sure we’re accurately processing and presenting the information brought to us by Seymour residents.”
Scott Blakeman
– 40
– Office sought: Board of Assessment Appeals
– Party: Republican
– Years in town: 8
– Profession: Cable installer and service
– Prior elected office: none
– Affiliations: Cub Scout den leader
– Why are you running?
“Help out the community.”
– What do you hope to accomplish?
“Help out the community.”
Gesek
Saundra Gesek
– Office sought: Board of Assessment Appeals
– Party: Democrat
– Years in town: 65
– Profession: retired
– Prior elected office: Board of Selectmen, Board of Education, Board of Assessment Appeals
– Affiliations: I had been on the board of the Seymour Historical Society. I am currently on the Livable Communities Committee, the Seymour Democratic Town Committee and The Seymour Alumni Association Committee.
– Why are you running for office?
“This board gives the taxpayer the ability to appeal their assessed taxes.”
– What do you hope to accomplish?
“This board is designed to serve as an appeal for those who believe that the assessors erred in the valuation of their property or possibly denied them exemptions. I would like to see their proof and make adjustments if necessary.”
Paul Wetowitz
– 67
– Office sought: Board of Assessment Appeals
– Party: Republican
– Years in town: 67
– Profession: Retired Seymour Fire Marshal
– Prior elected office: Board of Finance Alternate
– Affiliations: Great Hill Hose Company Firehouse, Seymour Republican Town Committee
– Why are you running?
“I have been involved with Seymour Emergency Services for 50 years. Seymour EMS, Seymour Fire Marshal, Seymour Police and Great Hill Hose Fire Company. I want to continue to serve the residents of seymour. I have always enforced public safety rules, regulations, procedures, equity, fair treatment and rights. I will maintain fair evaluation for appraisals on property in Seymour. I will openly listen to all sides before rendering a decision.”
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Peck
Richard E. Peck
– 60
– Office sought: Seymour P&Z
– Party: Republican
– How long in town? 20 plus years
– Profession: manager
– Prior elected office: Seymour P&Z
– Affiliations: Lions Clubs International, Toastmasters International
– Why are you running?
“I am running for the position of commissioner on Planning and Zoning to continue making contributions to the current and future development of Seymour. Planning and Zoning is more than just reviewing plans and approving or denying applications, it’s about strategic planning for near-term and long-term growth and sustainability. Serving on Planning and Zoning requires a commissioner to be both strategic and forward-thinking. I will apply my experience in strategic planning as part of his decision-making process. I am looking forward to working together with the residents along with the commissioners as we continue to grow Seymour now and into the future.”
Joe Niezelski
– 69
– Office sought: Seymour P&Z
– Party: Republican
– Prior elected office: Seymour P&Z
– Years in town: All my life
– Affiliations: I volunteer at Griffin Hospital, I’m also a member of the Knights Of Columbus helping to run the Strand Theater in Seymour.
– Why are you running for office?
“After working most of my life on the 2nd and 3rd shifts it was hard to get involved in town programs .. Now that I’m retired I have time to give back to the town and its citizens.”
– What do you hope to accomplish?
“I would like to do my part in being sure that land use and proposals to the commission are reviewed and decisions are based on not only regulatory criteria and the the developers rights but also the towns residents concerns.”
POLICE COMMISSIONERS
LIBRARY TRUSTEES
Joyce Koslowski
– 75
– Office sought: Seymour library board
– Party: Republican
– Years in town: All my life
– Profession: retired
– Prior elected office: Seymour library board
– Affiliations: N/A
– Why are you running?
“I love the library, and want to continue making sure it is free and all its resources are accessible to all who use it.”
– What do you hope to accomplish?
“Ensuring that the library continues to grow not only with the community but keeps up with all the new technologies that are emerging all the time.”
