Republicans tap George for first selectman run 

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Republican Kenneth George addresses the Beacon Falls Republican Town Committee Tuesday after receiving the committee’s endorsement to run for first selectman. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

BEACON FALLS — Two years ago, Republicans headed into the municipal election without a first selectman candidate to lead the ticket on the ballot. That won’t be the case this year.

The Republican Town Committee endorsed Kenneth George on Tuesday night to run for first selectman.

“I believe the residents of the town are tired with what they’re getting. They’re not happy with the situation,” said George after receiving the endorsement.

George, a 56-year-old Beacon Falls native, is the director of fleet service and director of non-emergency transportation for Campion Ambulance Service in Waterbury. George has a long history of public service — he is a former police officer in town and has been involved with Beacon Hose Company No. 1 since 1980. However, he is a newcomer to running for political office.

George said he was worried when he first thought about running. But the more he talked to people in town, he said, that anxiety started to fade.

“I’m not happy with the way things are going at Town Hall, quite honestly. They’re still good people, but doing some really bad things, I think, and I think, as a group, we need to fix it,” George said.

George’s running mate will be Selectman Michael Krenesky who was endorsed to run for a fourth term.

“I’m really excited. I think with Ken and I sitting on the Board of Selectmen as the majority the next two years we can make some major changes in Beacon Falls,” said Krenesky, 65, who is also the chairman of the Republican Town Committee.

Krenesky jokingly printed out signs with the phrase “Winter is coming!”— the popular saying from the HBO show “Game of Thrones” — and “Vote Republican November 7, 2017” written on them.

As he held one of the signs up for those gathered to see, Krenesky added, “This is the Game of Thrones folks and we’re here to win it.”

The committee endorsed incumbent Christine Arnold to run for another term on the Region 16 Board of Education, which oversees schools in Beacon Falls and Prospect. There are two seats up for election on the board, and the committee didn’t endorse another candidate.

The committee also didn’t endorse a candidate for tax collector. A candidate would now have to petition to primary to get on the Republican ticket. If a primary isn’t needed, that candidate would automatically be on the ticket. Candidates could also petition as petitioning candidates to get on the ballot.

The committee also endorsed the following candidates for office: Leonard Greene, town clerk; Doug Bosquet, town treasurer; Mark Bron, Board of Finance; David Dlugos, Board of Assessment Appeals; William Mis and Benjamin Smith, Zoning Board of Appeals; Ann O’Dell and Erik Day, library trustees.