Fairfield RTM now split evenly between parties
FAIRFIELD — For the first time in recent memory, the Representative Town Meeting is evenly split in terms of party membership.
The change in the balance of power comes after two Democrats switched their affiliation to Republican in the past few weeks. The move means a number of changes are in store for how the RTM operates and could affect some issues coming before the town body, especially the budget.
First, Hannah Gale changed her party membership. At the time, Gale said the switch was a result of the Connecticut Democratic Party’s push for legislation to remove the state’s religious exemption for vaccination mandates.
Tameisha Powell-Dunmore followed two weeks later on Jan. 11. She said she changed parties because she was “berated by some Democrats” for posts she made on Facebook about the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and for supporting the first selectwoman’s Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Program.
Democratic Town Committee Chairman Steven Sheinberg has refuted her claims that she was “berated” by Democratic officials, saying conversations with her were cal and focused on Powell-Dunmore spreading apparent “conspiracy theories” online.
He said the DTC was “incredibly confused and disappointed” to see the posts, which mostly focused on largely disproven claims about election fraud, adding they echoed the dangerous conspiracy theories, spread by right-wing domestic terrorists and radical, cult-like fringe groups, such as QAnon.
“I was told that I should resign from the DTC because my truths are not their truths and to give my seat back because it belongs to the Democratic Party,” Powell-Dunmore said. “It does not belong to a political party; I was elected by the voters in my district after campaigning on what I believe in.”
Sheinberg said the DTC leadership agreed that she is within her right to share her own individual opinions, but that she was sharing things that were in direct conflict with her role as an elected member of a Democratic Town Committee.
The party change takes effect 90 days after such a change in affiliation for voting in primaries, but the two members are already considered Republicans in terms of how the Representative Town Meeting is split.
Town Clerk Betsy Browne said she checked town records as far back as the 1980s and did not find a time when there was an evenly split RTM.
A now split RTM
Pamela Iacono, the Republican Caucus leader of the RTM, said Powell-Dunmore and Gale have been accepted into the Republican caucus.
Iacono said Powell-Dunmore’s switch means there most likely will no longer be a majority and minority leader of the body. She said the even split creates an opportunity for more compromise and effective work to be done.
“I think this situation we are in now will be a good reminder to us that we need to work collaboratively if we want to pass any incentives for the town,” Iacono said. “If either caucus has an item it wants approved, it will require cooperation from both parties to pass.”
Iacono said the biggest issue she sees facing the RTM in the near term is the budget appropriation
for the next fiscal year.
“Last year, I’m proud to say we worked together to pass a budget, but that historically doesn’t always happen,” she said. “The year before there was a major division split on party line on how to fund the paving budget.”
Jill Vergara, the Democratic Caucus leader, also said the split RTM would lead to spirited discussions, which she said is usually good for vetting plans and creating positive outcomes. She said she was disappointed that Democrats lost the majority, but is proud they put principles above politics.
“I think its pretty important to note that the Republican caucus leader and I have worked well together pretty much since the pandemic began,” she said. “I plan to continue that.”
As she watched the presidential inauguration, Vergara said she has an even stronger resolve to work with her Republican on the RTM. She said she agreed with Iacono’s point about possible issues during the budget process, but thinks there is an opportunity for more compromise.
“We really do have to work together to get it done for the town,” she said.
Vergara said she also wanted to make it clear that cooperation does not mean that Democrats in the RTM will “be mute and approve everything” presented to them. She said it is her duty to debate and interrogate everything.
“Some people characterize that as partisan for some reason,” she said. “It’s not partisan.
It’s questioning, and I refuse to have the RTM be a rubber stamp body. We’re going to continue to be a check and balance for the people.”
Powell-Dunmore said she is proud voters gave her the opportunity to serve her community. She said she had always done what she thought was right regardless of party, adding she does not believe in conspiracy theories or spreading disinformation.
“This country has been through a lot in recent years, and I just want everyone to come together,” she said. “It is the same reason why I volunteered for the Racial Equity and Justice Task Force. I am the lone elected town official who a person of color. This entire experience has not been easy for me but I speak the truth and will always stand up for what right.”
What it means for the body
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Browne pointed out that, if a vote fell along party lines and was evenly split, the motion would fail. She also said that the balance of power in the Committee on Committees is subject to change.
The Committee on Committees, also known as the RTM's special legislative management committee, chooses the membership of RTM standing committees and ad hoc special committees. It generally consists of of three members of the majority party and two members of the minority party.
“In the event that no majority or minority party exists as composed, the Committee on Committees shall consist of two members from each of the two parties with the highest number of members and one member as selected by the First Selectman,” a town document says.
Browne also confirmed that there will no longer be a majority and minority leader in the RTM — just caucus leaders.
Jonathan L. Wharton, an associate professor of political science and urban affairs at Southern Connecticut State University,
said Representative Town Meetings are not usually tied to political parties.
“It tends to be more about the candidates or the issues themselves — financial concerns and those things”, he said. “It seems it’s rare that it is so partisan or hyper partisan. I’ve never heard of a moment when it is split like this before. So, this is new to me.”
Wharton, who studies state and local government, said most governing bodies in municipalities have an odd number of members, which prevents situations where there could be a tie.
One good thing about local government, Wharton said, is that most people know one another and it generally prevents any sort of hyper-partisanship. He said town body’s have a better chance of members “haggling things out.”
“I’m not saying all the time,” Wharton said. “But it seems to be because they know one another, they still find a pathway of negotiating things out when needed. That’s kind of the beauty of local politics. The art of negotiation is more possible than it could ever be... in state positions and certainly national positions.”
Wharton said it is rare for politicians to change party affiliation from one major party to another, noting that switching from Independent to Republican or Democrat or vice-versa happens more frequently.
Wharton also said Fairfield Democrats are likely to politicize Gale and Powell-Dunmore switching parties, and their reasons for doing so, during the next election cycle.
“At the end of the day, these are more national issues than local issues,” he said. “It’s a matter of how some officials politicize national politics for their own gain — as opposed to (national politics) seeping from the top-down.”
The story was updated to reflect the rules for when the party switch will take effect.