This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
08/17/2021 02:24 PMLast month, the parties in Clinton announced their slate of candidates for the municipal election in November. Despite being eligible for re-election, two members of the Town Council decided not to seek another term and have explained their decision to the Harbor News.
Republican Mark Richards and Democrat Tim Guerra have both been members of the inaugural Town Council since fall 2019. Under the charter that went into effect in 2019, the first Town Council has members that serve staggered terms so that the entire council can’t be voted out in one election. The initial council had four members who served a four-year term and three members who served a two-year term. Richards and Guerra were two of the members who were elected to a two-year term along with Green Party member Eric Bergman.
While Bergman is a candidate for re-election, Richards and Guerra both are not. Both told the Harbor News that they chose not to seek re-election out of a feeling that it was time for them to move on from town politics.
“The reason for not running again is I’m approaching retirement, which may entail more travel and extended periods away from Clinton, and I thought it unfair and less effective to be a remote Town Council member,” Richards explained. “I consented to run in 2019 to help with the transition from Board of Selectman to town manager system of government. Additionally, I wanted to assist in selecting the best candidate for town manager.”
“It was my decision solely not to run,” Guerra said. “After 18 years of public service, I have come to the point where I just no longer want the responsibility. It’s time for others to contribute and step up. I’m looking forward to having more free time.”
Guerra said he would continue to serve on the Economic Development Commission.
Both men have enjoyed lengthy political careers in Clinton and proved to be popular candidates by serving on various boards and commissions in town. However, serving on the first ever iteration of the Town Council has been a unique experience that the two say they enjoyed.
“I enjoyed my time on the council, working with the other members and with [Town Manager Karl Kilduff], who has become a great asset for the town. Although the council has made great strides during the transitional first two years, we always strive to accomplish more,” said Richards.
Guerra, who also served on the Board of Selectman from 2017 to 2019 before that board was eliminated in favor of the Town Council, listed the multiple developments that have gotten underway around town as his favorite part. In particular, Guerra singled out the development of the old Morgan School, the sale of the Unilever property, the search for the first town manager and subsequent hiring of Kilduff, and the passage of the town and school budgets over the last three years.
As they prepare for their final three months on the board, Guerra and Richards offered final thoughts on the nature of town government and what they hope the future holds.
Richards said that he hopes the council works to find the best ways to help citizens, even if that mean getting creative and leaving no stone unturned.
“The council goal is to provide services to the citizens of Clinton in the most cost-effective manner, and that will require changes that some may challenge. All small towns must re-think how they operate, and look to regionalize services to lessen expenses and to reduce the tax burden on their citizens,” Richards said. “There can’t be any sacred cows and changes should be debated openly and freely.”
Guerra meanwhile reelected on his approach that he used when deciding town affairs and why he thinks that voters continued to elect him.
“Overall...it has been an honor to represent our citizens. My decisions were always based on the premise, ‘What’s the right thing to do?’ As a result, I have no regrets whatsoever and might be the reason why I never lost an election. I’m very proud of that fact Most of all, I respected all my peers and never felt I was confrontational. I disagreed, but in a respectful manner,” Guerra said.
In this upcoming election, all elected council members will serve a four-year term instead of a two-year term.
Currently, Republicans hold four of the seven seats on the Town Council, with three of those four members not up for re-election until 2023. Due to rules that prohibit any one party from having more than four members on the council at one time, that means that the Republicans can win only one seat and thus have one nominee for the council. The other parties can potentially win three seats and may have up to three nominees.
The nominees so far for the three Town Council seats include Tom Hollinger (R), Bergman (G), and Democrats Paul Gebauer , Carrie Allen, and Chris Passante.
The full slates can be viewed at Zip06.com.