Familiar names fill Republican ticket in Prospect

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Prospect Mayor Robert Chatfield, center, announces he will be running for re-election April 9 at Prospect Town Hall with his family, from left, his wife Ginny Chatfield and grandchildren Mackenzie Latozas and Zackery Latozas, behind him. Chatfield received the Republican Town Committee’s endorsement to run July 18. -FILE PHOTO

PROSPECT — The names on the Republican ticket for the November election are familiar ones, especially at the top.

The Prospect Republican Town Committee endorsed candidates at a July 18 caucus. For the 22nd consecutive election, Mayor Robert Chatfield will lead the Republican ticket.

“It’s truly an honor to serve the people,” said Chatfield, who thanked his family and all the people that have supported him over the years.

Chatfield, who has held the mayor’s seat for 42 years, was first elected in November of 1977.

“I’ve been here every day since,” he said.

Unless a candidate petitions to get on the ballot to challenge Chatfield, his 22nd term in office is assured, as town Democrats didn’t endorse a candidate to run against him.

For Town Council, the committee endorsed all five incumbents for re-election: Jeffrey Slapikas, who chairs the council, Douglas Merriman, Stanley Pilat, Richard Blanc and Megan Patchkofsky.

Republicans presently hold five seats and the majority on the nine-member council. One party can hold up to five seats.

The committee endorsed incumbent Roxann Vaillancourt and newcomer Robert Dyer for the Region 16 Board of Education, which oversees public schools in Beacon Falls and Prospect. Each town has four seats on the board. This year, two of Prospect’s seats are up for election.

Board of Education member Daisy Laone didn’t seek re-election, officials said.

Town Clerk M. Carrie Anderson and Town Treasurer David Young received the endorsements to run for re-election.

The committee backed Tax Collector Anne Marie Burr, who was the assistant tax collector and appointed tax collector in June after former Tax Collector Diane M. Lauber died, to run for the office.

Michael Dreher received the endorsement to run for re-election for Planning and Zoning Commission. The committee also endorsed Stephanie Lusas-Kolodziej and Shawn T. Baumann for Board of Assessment Appeals, and Scott Martin and Kristine Carasone for Zoning Board of Appeals.