Clear 33°5 Day Forecast
News Search

Advanced search
go
NewsClassifiedsDirectoryShoppingJobsReal EstateAutos
Sunday 22 November, 2009
Home > News > News > Politics 2009
News
Top StoriesNewsCommunity NewsBusinessPolitics 2009ObituariesSportsWeatherNews Search
Personal Finance
Weekend Living
Entertainment
Passport
Photo Galleries
Classifieds
Place Your Classified Ad
Advertising Info
Subscriptions
Fun and Games
Business Directory
Contact Us
New Milford Times Jobs
CT Publications
Home : News : News : Politics 2009
Politics 2009
New Milford Election 2009
By:
10/30/2009
email this storyEmail to a friendpost a commentPost a Commentprinter friendlyPrinter-friendly
New Milford's mayoral campaign approached the 11th-hour with Republican incumbent Patricia Murphy greeting voters by the post office and sending a huge mailing as she seeks to become the first person to win a fourth term in that office and her challenger, Robert Coppola, a Democrat who has been endorsed by New Milford First, increasing his door-to-door visits and distributing tote bags.

"I'm still going to all the events, even though fall is a busy time in town, because some of them in particular, like an Eagle Scout ceremony, are truly milestones in a person's life-and in the community, so I don't regard them as social events," Ms. Murphy said regarding some of her activities as she approaches the municipal election next Tuesday.
"I don't wind it down. I'm not winding down until I'm not the mayor," she said regarding her schedule.
If she wins, she would be the first candidate to be elected to a fourth term since the town established the mayor/council form of government in 1987.
Former Republican First Selectman Clifford Chapin was the last town chief executive to serve longer, having been in office from 1977 to 1987 when the mayor's office was established.
Mr. Coppola, who formally entered the race last January, said that the most discussed issue during his interaction with voters has been taxes.
"There are a number of people still without jobs and who have gotten new jobs, but at a much lower salary than what they had before," Mr. Coppola said regarding the continued impact of the economic recession.
"I'm still going out and talking to people, I'm helping the new candidates too, I go and stand in front of the post office and talk to people, we have fliers out and will be sending a new one out soon to 11,000 households, and there's my Web site," Ms. Murphy said regarding her communication with the voters.
Ms. Murphy said that her final mailing, which will go to 11,000 households, was revised recently when she decided to use a photograph of Trevor Belot, 7, of New Milford with one of her campaign signs.
The mayor said his note to her stated, "I love you. I hope you win. Love, Trevor."
"It was so spontaneous and so cute," Ms. Murphy said. "Everyone loved it, so that's why it'll be on the postcard we're sending out to 11,000 households."
Mr. Coppola, who has been campaigning door to door through the late afternoons and early evenings over the recent weeks, said he would be devoting even more hours to the personal visits in the final days of the race.
The candidate said that he is distributing campaign tote bags and that both the Democratic Party and New Milford First are distributing literature about his candidacy.
Mr. Coppola said that many voters have recognized him in recent weeks while he has been shopping at local supermarkets or department stores.
Polling will be conducted next Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at seven precincts-the John Pettibone School, Sarah Noble Intermediate School, Northville Elementary School, the Board of Education building on East Street, Schaghticoke Middle School, Hill & Plain Elementary School and the Gaylordsville Fire Co.
The new term begins early next month and would conclude on Nov. 30, 2011.
All nine of the Town Council members for the next term will be elected.
The Democratic candidates for the Town Council are incumbents Mary Jane Lundgren, Peter Mullen, John Lillis and Walter Bayer and, as a challenger, Conservation Commission member Anne Cutter.
The Republican candidates for the Town Council are incumbents Roger Szendy, Robert Guendelsberger, Pete Bass and Ray O'Brien as well as challengers Thomas Esposito and Cecilia Buck-Taylor.
New Milford First has nominated Eileen Monaghan and John Kane and cross-endorsed Ms. Lundgren, Mr. Mullen, Mr. Bayer, Mr. O'Brien and Ms. Cutter.
The electorate will choose three candidates for four-year terms on the Board of Finance.
New Milford First has nominated incumbents Frank Wargo and Sheldon Pruss, as well as Alexander Petersen.
The Republicans have nominated Joanne Chapin, who is currently an alternate on the board, and incumbent Mark Vendetti.
The Democratic nominees are Mr. Pruss and Mr. Wagro.
Incumbent Laurence Tripp has been nominated by the Republican Party and by New Milford First for a two-year vacancy on the finance board.
There is no Democratic nominee for that slot.
There are four seats being contested for four-year terms on the Board of Education.
The Republican candidates are incumbents William Wellman and Wendy Faulenbach and newcomers Stillani (Stella) Vendetti and Lynette Celli Rigdon.
New Milford First has nominated incumbents Amy Llerna and Thomas McSherry.
The Democratic candidates are Mr. McSherry and Ms. Llerena and Elizabeth Finney, who also is an incumbent.
There are two two-year seats on the ballot for the school board.
The Democrats and New Milford First have nominated Lawrence Stillman.
The Republicans have nominated Daniel Nicholas and Nancy Tarscio-Latour.
The only candidate for a four-year term on the Board of Assessment Appeals is Democratic incumbent Oscar Rasmussen.
There are two seats on the ballot for four-year terms on the Planning Commission.
New Milford First has nominated Gerard Monaghan.
The Democratic candidate is Lisa Alexander, and the Republican nominees are Theresa Volinski and incumbent Peter Eng.
Two seats will be filled for four-year terms on the Zoning Commission.
The Republican nominees are incumbent William Taylor and Charles Bradford. The Democrats and New Milford First have nominated incumbent Janice Vance.
There also is a two-year seat on the ballot for the Zoning Commission.
The Democrats and New Milford First have nominated Benjamin Grinnell and the Republican candidate is incumbent James Volinski Jr.
There will be two four-year seats being voted on for the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The Republican candidates are Pauline Brannigan and incumbent Martin Monteiro.
The Democrats and New Milford First have nominated Terry Ellis and the Democrats also have nominated Richard Dugdale.
-Alice Tessier contributed to this story.


©The Housatonic Times 2009


email this storyEmail to a friendpost a commentPost a Commentprinter friendlyPrinter-friendlyTop
Place your classified ad online!
Home Services
Business Card
Advertisement

Questions or comments? Email the Webmaster.
Interested in a career with Journal Register Company? Click here.

Copyright © 1995 - 2009 Townnews.com All Rights Reserved.
NewsClassifiedsDirectoryShoppingJobsReal EstateAutos