Beacon Falls GOP endorses slate without first selectman candidate

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BEACON FALLS — Republicans will head into the November municipal election without a first selectman candidate, a fact the head of the Beacon Falls Republican Town Committee attributed primarily to the position’s salary.

The committee endorsed its slate for the election at a caucus July 18. The slate lacked candidates for a few positions, including the town’s top political seat held by Democrat First Selectman Christopher Bielik.

Committee Chairman Michael Krenesky, who is also a selectman, said the committee had two very serious and excellent candidates considering a run for first selectman. But, he said, after they evaluated the position’s salary and the time involved, they decided not to run.

The Board of Finance this year increased the salary for the position from $48,000 a year to $55,000 in the 2019-20 budget. The raise goes into effect after the election.

Krenesky said similar towns with a first selectman pay the position a median salary of about $65,000. He feels the position should be considered full time and given benefits to help increase the pool of candidates, an opinion he said isn’t a reflection on any past or present first selectmen.

“I like First Selectman Bielik, but I think that all in all we have shut down the pool by saying if you’re not retired and willing to take the lower salary, we’re always going to have the issue of not bringing forward more candidates for the position,” he said.

Krenesky received the committee’s endorsement to run for re-election as selectman. Krenesky has served in an elected or appointed position in town, including four terms as a selectman, since 1984. He said he’s planning to retire from his job in 2020, and if re-elected, it would be his last term in office.

“It’s time to turn the reins over to other people that need to come in here with fresh ideas,” Krenesky said.

The committee endorsed Ben Catanzaro, who is a member of the Board of Assessment Appeals, for the Region 16 Board of Education. The school board oversees public schools in Beacon Falls and Prospect. Each town gets four seats on the board. This year two seats are up for election.

The committee also nominated Marc Smith for the school board. However, a couple of days after the caucus, Krenesky said, after further vetting, the committee could not gain confirmation and formal signatures for the position and Smith’s name will be not be submitted as a candidate.

That leaves Catanzaro as the only Republican candidate for the Board of Education.

Kyle Brennan, who was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Finance in the fall of 2018, received the endorsement to run for the board. Brennan is a contributing sports writer for the Citizen’s News.

The committee endorsed David Dlugos to run for the Board of Assessment Appeals.

Along with first selectman, the committee didn’t endorse candidates for town treasurer, Zoning Board of Appeals and library trustees.

Krenesky said the committee reached out in multiple ways to try to attract candidates, but people didn’t come forward. He said people are too busy with the lives to jump into public service.

“It’s a huge time commitment and it’s that time commitment that turns people off,” he said.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated from the version published in the July 25 edition of the Citizen’s News to include information about Marc Smith’s candidacy for the Region 16 Board of Education received after press time.