Councilor left off GOP slate says ‘It’s politics’

CROMWELL » When the Republican Town Committee held its caucus last month to choose candidates for the November election, one prominent Republican got left behind.

Incumbent town councilor and town committee Vice Chairman Edward Wenners was not renominated for a second term on the council. Instead, he was replaced on the ballot by town committee Chairman Allan Spotts.

Spotts, who ran unsuccessfully for town clerk in 2015, had previously served four terms on the council and Board of Selectmen. He is currently on the Board of Finance.

Spotts had made no secret of his wish to get back on the council, however. Reflecting on the turn of events that left him on the sidelines and replaced by Spotts, Wenners said, “I understand it. When you get into politics, these things happen.”

Wenners, an Army veteran who served two tours in Vietnam and retired as a lieutenant colonel, owns and operates Wenners Engineering, a Cromwell-based engineering consulting business.

Republicans are in the majority and control five of the seven seats on the council. All four of the other Republican incumbent members of the council were renominated by the caucus: Mayor Enzo Faienza, Deputy Mayor Richard R. Newton and councilors Frank Emanuele Jr. and Samantha Slade.

Slade is the only female on the council.

The night the caucus convened, Wenners said, “Early on, I could (read) the signs: it was not in the cards for me.”

In addition to being committee chairman, Spotts also appointed the members of the nominating committee. What’s more, Spotts “is good friends with Mayor Faienza and (state Rep.) Christie Carpino,” Wenners said.

In the weeks leading up to the caucus — and even after it met — Wenners was the subject of any number of rumors. One that circulated had him pushing to become chairman — a contention Wenners dismissed out of hand.

Then, following the caucus, another rumor began making the rounds that Wenners would mount a primary challenge in an effort to retain his seat.

Wenners, who said he had not heard that around town, flatly rejected it when it was brought to his attention.

Wenners said Spotts offered him the chairmanship (an assertion Spotts denies) but he turned it down.

Given the outcome of the caucus, Wenners said he felt it was best if he stepped down as vice chairman. He will remain a member of the town committee, however, Wenners said.

But even before the caucus, Wenners said he had been under pressure from his family to cut back on his commitments so he could spend more time relaxing and being with his family.

“I’m not bitter,” Wenners said. “It’s politics.”

FILE PHOTO Cromwell Town Hall