The Republican and Democratic town committees along with the Green Party have officially announced their respective slates for the upcoming municipal election. The slates are led by the candidates for the three open seats on Clinton’s Town Council.

Under the charter that went into effect in 2019, the Town Council members 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. This election, all elected council members will serve a four-year term.

Currently, Republicans hold four of the seven seats on the Town Council, with three of those four members not up for reelection 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.

Council members Eric Bergman (Green Party), Mark Richards (R), and Tim Guerra (D), are the three council members who have a term expiring in 2021. Only Bergman was endorsed by his party to run again.

Should any member of the major parties want to force a primary election of an endorsed candidate, primary forms must be filled out by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11. In the 2017 municipal elections there were primaries in both parties; the Republican challengers were successful while the Democratic ones were not. There were no primary challengers in the 2019 election.

Democratic Candidates

The Democratic Town Committee (DTC) nominated Paul Gebauer, Carrie Allen, and Chris Passante for the Town Council positions. Gebauer is on the Energy Committee, Allen was on the Town Manager Search Committee, and Passante is a member of the Board of Education.

For the Board of Education, the DTC nominated Erica Gelven and Jack Scherban

The Police Commission nominees are Lynn Hidek and Ed Tessman.

For the Planning & Zoning Commission full seats, the DTC endorsed Will Benoit, Ellen Dahlgren, and Mike Rossi and Jay Mandell for the alternate seat.

The Zoning Board of Appeals nominees are Laurie Jaffe and Bertram Schmitz for the full seats along with Tom Shultz for the alternate seat.

Alyson Roberts is lone nominees for the Board of Assessment Appeals.

The Green Party

The Green Party chose to nominate only Bergman for the Town Council. Bergman is an incumbent

Phil Sengle was nominated for the Police Commission.

For the Board of Education, the Greens nominated Jason Feeney.

Tania Abbatello is the nominee for the Planning & Zoning Commission.

John Escobales was nominated for the Board of Assessment Appeals.

Hugh Birdsall was nominated for the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Republican Candidates

The Republican Town Committee (RTC) endorsed Tom Hollinger for the Town Council seat. Hollinger is a member of the Board of Assessment Appeals. Republicans currently hold four seats on the seven-person council with the other three members not up for re-election until 2023.

For the Board of Education, the RTC nominated Mike Hornyak and Peter Nye.

Joe Alves was nominated for a full seat on the Board of Assessment Appeals.

The Planning & Zoning Commission Republican candidates for a full seat include Michael Knudsen, Walter Beau Clark, and Mike Florio. Jim King and Brendan Saunders were nominated for alternate seats.

Dom Morrelli, John Harrington, and Wayne Buchanan were nominated for the Board of Police Commissioners.

Rounding out the slate were the nominees for the Zoning Board of Appeals: Dennis Irmscher for a full seat and Dylan Walter for an alternate seat.

The Harbor News will continue to provide 2021 election coverage, especially as Election Day gets closer.