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To do this, she must receive a nomination from the floor of the DTC meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. and the subsequent endorsement of the full committee. Failing to achieve that, she could still be nominated from the floor at the caucus that will convene at 7:30 p.m., after the DTC meeting.
Only registered Democrats can vote in the caucus. Unaffiliated voters can register as Democrats up to the day of the caucus, but registered Republicans would be required to wait three months before a change of party became official.
Ms. Garrity, currently chairman of the Board of Education, said she called Mr. Adams on Monday and had a two-hour conversation with him. "We talked about the campaign and the issues in town, past, present and future," she said. "I was encouraged in talking to Bruce and listening to his ideas. I found we agreed on many of the major issues."
Ms. Garrity said that she had considered challenging Mr. Adams for the first selectman nomination or, possibly, running as an independent for the position. "I put a lot of thought into what I could bring to the board," she said, "and I decided I do not need to be first selectman to do that. I still feel compelled to offer my experience, time and energy to the town, so I have reconsidered my position. I do not wish to contribute to a situation that might 'split the vote' between Bruce and me. I would much rather work with Bruce and I look forward to the possibility of serving on the Board of Selectmen."
Ms. Garrity said she sees the idea of collaborating with Mr. Adams as exciting and added, "There are exciting opportunities ahead for Kent."
Ms. Garrity said that, if elected, she would step down from the Board of Education, which would free more time for selectmen responsibilities. "This is not an ego thing for me," she said. "I don't need to be first selectman. It's a question of how to get Kent to where it needs to be."
Mr. Worthington appeared unfazed by the possibility of another nomination coming from the floor during the DTC meeting. "I feel the Democrats, no matter what, have a real good slate of potential candidates. No matter what the outcome, the town of Kent will be well served."
Mr. Worthington said he would not be unduly disappointed if Ms. Garrity received the nomination. "Karren and I have been friends for long time and no matter what we will remain friends. Karren, Bruce, the nomination committee have all been wonderful. The caucus will decide and I wouldn't feel 'dissed' at all [if Ms. Garrity is selected] and I hope she wouldn't feel that way if I were selected."
"I am totally at ease and prepared to do the job [of first selectman]," said Mr. Adams, "and I feel I can work well with either of these candidates." He said he hopes there will not be a "battle at the caucus." "I think, in the end, it would be divisive for the Democratic Party."
Mr. Adams said one of his top priorities as first selectman would be to eliminate the last vestiges of partisanship from the Board of Selectmen and "to see how we can get the various town boards to work together better than we current do."
He said he does not believe that the proposal put forward last week by the Republican Town Committee calling for a town manager is viable at this time.
The Republicans envision a town manager who would handle most of the day-to-day operation of the town under the direction of an elected Board of Selectmen. "We think it is important to state ... that this change is intended to drastically reduce the amount of time the First Selectman devotes to the job, reducing it from a full time position to a major, volunteer commitment, comparable to being on the Board of Education, Board of Finance or other Town Commissions," the Republicans said this week in a written statement. They said the funding for the professional manager would be created, in part, by eliminating salaries for the Board of Selectmen and applying the approximately $67,000 currently paid to the three board members toward the manager's salary. The only community with a town manager paid less than $100,000 is Winsted.
The Republicans contend that having a town manager would also "reduce the disparity of influence between the first selectman and the other two selectmen."
"Kent electors choose three selectmen, with guaranteed minority party representation, so that three different viewpoints can be considered," they contend. "Because the first selectman is currently the only full-time employee, a disproportionate amount of the Selectmen's responsibilities devolves to the first selectman."
The first selectman would no longer manage daily tasks in town hall, allowing that person to continue his or her own career, the Republicans reason. "A detailed review of statutory assignments, commitments to regional organizations and ex-officio positions on town boards and committees would determine which assignments could be delegated to the other selectmen. ... A selectman's presence at meetings of other organizations in town should be encouraged to improve understanding and communication," the statement said. Regular monthly Board of Selectmen meetings would continue to be held and presided over by the first selectman.
