NOTE: The Valley Indy Wednesday night had wrong information for candidates running for the Board of Education and the Board of Finance. Corrections were made Thursday morning.
Kurt Miller, a 41-year-old member of the Board of Selectmen and former chairman of the Board of Finance, emerged unchallenged Wednesday night as the Republican party’s nominee for First Selectman.
The 1988 graduate of Seymour High School and lifelong town resident told about 150 registered Republicans in a caucus at the Strand Theater he was deeply humbled and honored by their support.
“This has been my dream, since I was a child,” he said.
He said he and his team are prepared to take on the Democratic incumbent, Paul Roy, who is up for the Democratic nomination next Monday.
“My only promise to you is I’m going to work very hard to do what I can in the best interest of Seymour,” Miller told the audience.
Miller spoke about how the town has lost ground since Republicans are no longer in office — Paul Roy beat Republican Robert Koskelowski two years ago — and said he hopes to continue the tradition of Republican leadership for Seymour.
In a brief interview after the caucus, Miller, who is a funeral director and account relationship manager for an insurance company, said, “I’m a yellow pad guy. I’m a big planner.”
He wants to bring accountability and long-range planning to the office of First Selectman, something he said has been lacking.
Miller was nominated by Selectman John Conroy, who praised him for his logical thinking and professional skills he can bring to the office. The nomination was seconded by State Rep. Len Greene Jr., R‑Seymour.
“Kurt has the ability to make very hard decisions when they may not be popular,” Greene said in praise of Miller.
At the end of the night, Bill Paecht, the chairman of the Republican Town Committee, said he is very happy with the slate the Republicans are putting up for the November election.
“We’ve got a good variety, with different points of view,” Paecht said.
Note: Technical difficulties prevented the Valley Indy from posting Miller’s entire speech in the video above.
Here is the official slate:
First Selectman
Kurt Miller
Board of Selectmen
Al Bruno
Gary Bruce
Nicole Klarides-Ditria
AnnMarie Drugonis (incumbent)
Board of Finance
Dave Bitso
Trish Danka
Peter Jezierny (incumbent)
Michele Pavlik
Ed Wasikowski
Board of Finance Alternates
Elizabeth Tift
Kimberly Welch
Board of Education
Jay Hatfield
Jen Magri
Board of Police Commissioners
Steve Chucta (incumbent)
Lucy McConologue (incumbent)
John Popik.
Library Board
Nancy Critella
Paul Thompson
Al Yagovane
Board of Assessment Appeals
Christine Conroy (incumbent)
Alex Danka
