Mark Widomski will lead the charge as the city’s independent party puts forth its largest slate of candidates ever for November’s election.
During a brief caucus Tuesday, Widomski, 40, was nominated Tuesday as the Citizens United Party candidate for mayor.
Note: Story updated with Widomski’s speech at end.
This will be Widomski’s first run for office, although, as of Aug. 28, Citizens United had penciled him in as a candidate for the Shelton Board of Education.
He is a former Waterbury police officer.
Widomski said he is running in an effort to give Shelton residents another choice at the polls aside from the Republicans and Democrats, which have members in various city offices.
Widomski said current city officials have acted for “a select few” rather than for the entire city for the past 15 years. He also said the current government is presiding over crumbling infrastructure, a failing school system and a bonding process that “appears to be out of control.”
“The residents of Shelton deserve better. The residents are entitled to an open and transparent government that has been severely lacking and has no prospect of being restored by the two major parties,” he said. “It is time to restore these basic fundamentals owed to the citizens of Shelton.”
Widomski said he also wants to clean up the appearance of improprieties that have lingered in Shelton government due to allegations of corruption.
Chris Panek, chairman of Citizens United, said he is confident in the candidates, the largest since the party was created seven years ago.
“We need change to infuse some new ideas,” he said. “You’re just not seeing that in every meeting you go to. Talking to a lot of people, that’s not what’s happening now.”
Eleven other Citizens United candidates will also challenge for seats in this year’s elections.
Also running:
Aldermen: Christopher Panek, Jeff Forte, John Todice, Randy York, Steve Alder and Gregory Kodz
Board of Education: Eric Levine, Cheryl Rotolo and Diane Lionetti-Unitas
Planning and Zoning Commission: David Cote and Patricia Kodz
Board of Apportionment and Taxation: Robert Dalton
This is a copy of Widomski’s acceptance speech.
