The Seymour Democrats Wednesday (July 17) endorsed 18 candidates for the 2013 municipal election — but they named no one for the town’s top seat.
“Our absence of a First Selectman candidate today is in no way — and I’ll repeat it again, no way — an endorsement or a statement of support for our current First Selectman,” said Democratic Town Committee Chairman Steve Kulas.
Rather, Kulas said, the few strong potential candidates had job or family responsibilities prevent them from running.
Theresa Conroy, for example, would have made a strong candidate, Kulas said. But Conroy is in the middle of her term as state representative, after winning back the seat last November.
“It really is a sign of the times,” Kulas said. “People can’t afford to be away from their job. They can’t risk it in this economic environment. I think if we had a four-year term it might be different.”
Kulas did not name the other potential candidates. The town committee has until Aug. 7 to send names to the Secretary of State for the ballot, Kulas said.
Anyone interested in running for First Selectman should contact him at (203) 881‑8390.
Republican First Selectman Kurt Miller criticized former First Selectman Paul Roy, a Democrat, for lack of economic development during their campaigns in 2011. But Kulas says the Democrats could lodge the same complaints against the Republican administration today.
“He (Miller) put on his Facebook images of a vacant Housatonic Wire site. It should be put back on his Facebook,” Kulas said. “He put on his Facebook an undeveloped Tri-Town Plaza. He should take credit for having done nothing about it for the last two years.”
Kulas said the rest of the slate of candidates would work toward improved economic development on their respective boards, if elected.
The party’s slate includes several familiar faces, plus some newcomers to the Democratic Town Committee.
Click play to hear Kulas speak about the party’s candidates.
Of note, two candidates for the Board of Selectmen — Zani Imetovski, a student at the University of New Haven, and Preet Singh, a newer member of the DTC who ran for the board unsuccessfully in 2011.
Kulas also praised the three incumbent members of the Board of Education who are running for re-election, saying they have always had the best interest of Seymour’s children in mind, and will continue to do so if elected again.
Fred Stanek, Jim Garofolo and Ed Strumello will run again for the Board of Education. Two other Democrats, Saundra Gesek and Kristen Harmeling, will remain on the board finishing up terms before they need to run again.
The 2013 election will be the first time Seymour voters will vote for members of the Planning and Zoning Commission. The town voted to make the commission an elected board, rather than an appointed board, in the 2012 election. The new members will be voted on in phases, according to Paul Roy.
Here is the Seymour Democrats’ official slate. An asterisk indicates an incumbent.
First Selectman
Vacant
Board of Selectmen
Paul Roy
Karen Stanek *
Preet Singh
Zani Imeovski
Board of Finance
Rich Grudzias (current alternate)
John Stelma *
Bill Sawicki *
The Democrats can nominate three more people, and two alternates to this board. Anyone interested in running should call Kulas.
Board of Education
Fred Stanek *
James Garofolo *
Ed Strumello *
Police Commission
Frank Conroy *
Phil Wilhelmy
Board of Assessment Appeals
Tony LoPresti *
Tom LaPaglia
Library Board
Melanie Kalako
Steve Kulas *
Maureen Wilhelmy
Planning and Zoning
James Baldwin *
