Saybrook Caucuses Choose Slates
By July 26 at 4 p.m., the political parties had completed their party caucuses and filed the list of party-endorsed candidates with the town clerk. For the Republicans, the slate includes many incumbents. For the Democrats, the list includes incumbents as well as a number of new faces ready to challenge the current office holders.
For the first selectman’s race, the Republicans endorsed incumbent Carl Fortuna, Jr., and the Democrats, Stephen Sheehan. The two parties’ candidates for the two remaining Board of Selectmen spots are incumbents, with Scott Giegerich for the Republicans and Carol Conklin for the Democrats.
Running unopposed on the Republican ticket are Robert Fish for town treasurer and Barry Maynard for tax collector. No Democratic candidates were endorsed for these slots.
The race for town clerk will pit incumbent Republican Sarah Becker against a challenger, Democrat Carl Garbe.
For the Town Police Commission, with four full-term openings to fill, the Republicans endorsed four and the Democrats two. Running on the Republican ticket are incumbent Joseph Masilli as well as Frank Keeney, Charles Gadon, and Kenneth Reid. For Democrats, the endorsement went to Frank Glowski and Rene Shipee.
Another competitive race in the fall will be for seats on the Board of Finance, a body with four full-term openings. The Republicans have selected incumbents David LaMay, Carol Rzasa, and Breck Lindley to run again and added candidate Paul Carver to the list. For the Democrats, chosen to run are incumbent Barry O’Nell as well as Donna Nucci and Carol Manning.
The Board of Education has five openings in the fall for full-terms and six candidates are running to fill them. For the Republicans, endorsed are incumbents Philip Broadhurst III and Alan Hyla; joining them on the ticket are Jan Furman and Tara Barros. The Democrats have chosen incumbents Eileen Baker and Karen Brodeur to endorse.
Candidates for other positions are as follows:
Zoning Commission: Democrat Ann Thorsen and Republican incumbents Gerri Lewis and Robert Friedmann
Planning Commission: Democrats Kathleen Sugland and Trevor Ladd and Republican Paula Kay
Harbor Management: Republicans Ray Collins (incumbent) and Robert Murphy and incumbent Democrat Paul Connolly
Zoning Board of Appeals: Republicans Robert McIntyre and Dorothy Alexander and Democrat Adam Boyd (all are incumbents)
Board of Assessment Appeals: Republicans Ruth Fitzgerald (incumbent) and Peter Gallagher and Democrat Carl Garbe
Parks and Recreation Commission: Democrats chose Nancy Gatta and Steven Pernal and Republican incumbent James Henderson