How popular is 12-term Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti with local Republicans?
He was nominated unanimously for a 13th term Monday without even showing up for the party’s nominating convention.
The mayor was actually called out of state on a personal matter, said party chairman Anthony Simonetti, who noted that after 24 years of steady development and stable taxes, voters know what Lauretti brings to the table.
Lauretti won his 12th term in office in 2013 by a more than three-to-one margin, besting Democratic Town Committee Chairman David Gioiello 6,876 votes to 2,110 votes.
Last week the city’s Democrats nominated downtown business owner Michele Bialek to be their party’s standard-bearer in November.
About 60 Republicans attended Mondays caucus at Vazzy’s Cucina on Bridgeport Avenue. They caucused ward-by-ward to select candidates for the Board of Aldermen before voting as a group for the rest of the ticket.
A full list of candidates is posted below.
John Anglace, the president of the Board of Alderman, seconded Lauretti’s nomination and said Lauretti has delivered on his promises during his 12 terms in office.
“We’ve seen an efficient, well-run city over the past 24 years, and I think you’ll see nothing less in the next two years,” Anglace said.
“What you see is what you get,” Anglace said of Lauretti. “You’re not going to get anything different. You know what you can expect. And you’re going to get well-run, efficient government, and you’re going to get as an objective, no tax increase.”
Sandy Nesteriak, who chaired the party when its leaders recruited Lauretti to run in 1991 — then went on to serve as his assistant for 17 and a half years — echoed Anglace’s sentiments.
“He’s pretty much the same guy. He’s pretty hard-headed, everyone knows that. But he’s dedicated to the city and to making the city prosper,” Nesteriak said.
Elsewhere on the ticket, Fourth Ward Alderman John Papa announced he is stepping down after 11 terms in office due to to spend more time with his grandchildren after the deaths of a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law.
“They need me, I think, a little more than the city,” Papa said. “If you can’t give 100 percent, you shouldn’t be involved.”
Jason Perillo, one of Shelton’s state representatives and the chairman of Monday’s convention, asked those present to thank Papa for his service. They responded with a standing ovation.
In Papa’s place, they nominated Jim Capra, a manager at the Avalon Shelton apartment complex on Canal Street and a lifelong city resident.
Capra said he’s been involved with the local Republican party for about three years and jumped at the opportunity to run in Papa’s place.
Papa’s retirement means the composition of the Board of Aldermen will see its first change in makeup since 2009. Simonetti welcomed Capra to the ballot.
The party chairman also highlighted two other new faces — Cris Balamaci and Karen Batistelli, who are running for the Board of Apportionment and Taxation along with incumbent John Belden.
Though new to the ballot, Simonetti said “they’re not new to the city or the Shelton Republican Town Committee, and we look forward to their serving.”
The BOAT nominations were the only wrinkle in Monday’s proceedings, with the Republicans’ selection committee having nominated Belden, Balamaci, and Mark Widomski, who made an unsuccessful third-party challenge to Lauretti in 2009.
After those names were announced, Charlotte Madar, the chair of the tax board, nominated Batistelli, an accountant.
The town committee’s members then voted by secret ballot to nominated Belden, Balamaci, and Batistelli. Widomski did not attend Monday’s meeting.
“It’s a good problem to have,” Perillo said as the votes were being cast. “Too many candidates.”
Simonetti said after the caucus that the city’s track record means it should be a “no-brainer” for voters to cast their ballots in support of Lauretti and the rest of the GOP.
“The city has seen progress,” Simonetti said. “It’s seen growth, excellent growth. We still continue to see growth even in the bad times.”
Here is the Republicans’ official slate.
Mayor
Mark Lauretti (incumbent)
Treasurer
Raymond O’Leary (incumbent)
Board of Aldermen
Ward 1
Anthony Simonetti (incumbent)
David Gidwani
Ward 2
Stan Kudej (incumbent)
Eric McPherson (incumbent)
Ward 3
John Anglace (incumbent)
Lynne Farrell (incumbent)
Ward 4
Noreen McGorty (incumbent)
Jim Capra
Board of Education
Mark Holden (incumbent)
Tom Minotti (incumbent)
Kathy Yolish (incumbent)
John Francino-Quinn (incumbent)
Anne Gaydos
Win Oppel (incumbent)
Darlissa Ritter
John Boyko
Planning and Zoning Commission
Tom McGorty (incumbent)
Ginny Harger (incumbent)
Planning and Zoning Commission Alternate
Ned Miller (incumbent)
Board of Apportionment and Taxation
John Belden (incumbent)
Cris Balamaci
Karen Batistelli
Library Board
Steven Bellis
