NAUGATUCK — The Republican Town Committee endorsed its slate for the November election last week without a candidate to challenge Democrat incumbent Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess.
“We have not had anyone come forward with interest and availability in their personal lives to run for mayor,” committee Chair Kim Kiernan said. “It is difficult for most people who already have a full-time job to leave their job, and then not know if they will have that job in two years.”
The deadline to fill vacancies was Wednesday, and candidates need to petition to get on the ballot now.
The committee will look to pick up some seats on the Board of Mayor and Burgesses. Of the nine burgesses on the board now, six are Democrats.
The committee endorsed incumbents Bob Neth, who is deputy mayor, Dorothy Hoff and Don Wisniewski to run for re-election. Former Mayor and Burgess Mike Bronko, Jack Deoliveira and Tyler Fredericks also got the nod to run for burgess.
For the Board of Education, the committee endorsed incumbents Dorothy Neth-Kunin, who is chair of the board, Glenn Connan, Scott Slauson and Diana Malone to run again along with Jeff Litke. The school board has nine members, including the mayor. The most seats one party can hold is five, not counting the mayor.
“We are proud of the entire slate we have put together,” Kiernan said. “We are very pleased to have a strong mixture of all of our experienced incumbents along with some talented fresh faces, and we are confident in the possibilities for the upcoming election.”
The committee endorsed Ed Fennell for tax collector, but he subsequently decided not to run, Kiernan said.
The following candidates were also endorsed by the committee: Judy Anderson for treasurer; Michelle Dowling for town clerk; Sally Brouillet, Wendy Fowler and Eileen Bronko for Zoning Commission; Maria Pinheiro and Ken Pollock for Planning Commission; Steve Loban, Seth Bronko, Chris Kiernan and Daniel Renzoni for bailiff.
Correction: The article published in the July 28 edition of the Citizen’s News didn’t include Jack Deoliveira among the endorsed burgess candidates.
