The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Selectman won’t run with GOP
Arcelaschi to run as petitioning candidate
WINSTED >> Todd Arcelaschi recently announced that he intends to seek re-election to the Winchester Board of Selectmen as a petitioning candidate in this election cycle.
Arcelaschi, who was previously elected as a Republican, said Friday that he will run as a petitioning candidate because of the discourse about the town purported by representatives of the Republican Town Committee, who have been painting a “negative picture of the town,” and are driven by political motivations, he said.
For his part, Arcelaschi believes the atmosphere in town has improved.
“Things are going well,” he said. “They’re not perfect, but they’re getting better.”
Arcelaschi referred to recently published letters to the editor and comments offered by other members as examples of this negativity.
The Board of Selectmen has been working in concert, he said, and Town Manager Robert Geiger has proven to be a competent official.
He also cited the opening of Five Elements Robotics and the possible sale of the former Lambert Kay pet grooming facility as examples of positive developments in the community.
“If we focus on the negative, all the bad things that happen, where do we go? We stay in a downward spiral. It’s a new day. It’s time to look ahead. It’s time to focus on the good,” wrote Arcelaschi as part of his announcement. “When we work together, when we look to the future, when we act in the best interests of Winchester and when we leave silly and petty politics at the door; Winchester wins, we all win.”
Arcelaschi noted the example of his father’s time in office, and said that what he learned from him would serve as a lodestar during his run for reelection. John Arcelaschi, who died in 2013, served as mayor and on the Board of Selectmen in the late 1990s, and was also police chief in Winsted.
“To be honest; to act with integrity and to exhibit character in all that I do. To know the difference between right and wrong, and to have the courage to choose to do right, even when it is the more difficult path. Remember where I’ve been; to remember my mistakes and to learn from them. These are the principles I strive to have, to bring to Winchester,” wrote Todd Arcelaschi.
Arcelaschi said Friday that, to his knowledge, a petitioning candidate had never won a Winsted election, but he would leave it in the hands of the voters to consider whether he had done a good job in office.
Arcelaschi was elected to the Board of Selectmen in November 2015.
As written in the Town Charter, seven seats — the entirety of the governing body — are to be contested during the coming election. Each selectman serves a two-year term in office.