GOP taps fresh candidates for 2017

WINSTED » The Republican Town Committee endorsed a new slate of candidates for the fall municipal election at its caucus Tuesday, with hopes of continuing progress in the community, members said.

No incumbent serving on the Board of Selectmen or Board of Education was endorsed by the RTC.

“(The aim of this slate) is continuing to move Winsted forward — continuing the path forward. Nothing’s perfect, so although we have great things going on in the town, there’s always room for improvement. And this team is ready to do that,” said Republican Town Committee Chairman Lisa

Smith. “We have a young crew, full of energy — fresh minds, ready to go.”

Elizabeth Morin, Candace Bouchard — a member of the board from 2013 to November 2015, and a former mayor — Todd Verzino, Michelle Grant and John Vecchitto Jr. were endorsed to run for the Board of Selectmen, while, according to Smith, Jamie Duffy, Shana DeVaux and Eleni Fotinopoulous were nominated to run for the Board of Education.

Morin, Verzino and Vechitto said they were relatively new to town, and volunteered to run with the hope of making the town more business-friendly.

“I see a lot of promise with this town, but I also see a lot of things, not negative, but real,” said Verzino. “We need more jobs. We need less empty storefronts on Main Street, more business in Winsted — progress. More transparency with government.”

“I’m here to bring a fresh set of eyes for the people of Winsted,” said Vecchitto. “Winsted’s good, but it could be better.”

Nelson, a mother of five, said she was disheartened to learn of the town’s struggles when she moved here last year.

“What I’m hoping to do is expedite that process of bringing in new business investors,” said Nelson. “And, overall, making the politics in this town a little more public-friendly . ... I’d like people to know what’s going on in their town — they deserve that at the very least.”

Bouchard said the two years she served on the board had been tumultuous, but progress had been made, and pointed to obtaining grant funds for the remediation of Lambert Kay and a policy that the town fund balance be maintained, among other measures, as examples.

“I think we made a lot of good steps. I think there’s been great changes that occurred, and they’ve followed in those footsteps,” said Bouchard. “I just want to keep working forward.”

Grant said the discussion and controversy over the future of the Winsted Super Saver had galvanized her to seek office.

“I am a Realtor, and I firmly believe in private property rights,” said Grant. “I would like to see private property owners be able to sell their property for the highest and best use, and for the most amount of money, and that was not what happened in that situation. And that really got me off the fence.”

She hopes to streamline the process of moving through the Planning and Zoning Commission and aid property owners in making improvements.

“We really want to see Winsted thrive and be open for business,” said Grant.

Richard Nallette and Tore Lovetere were endorsed to run for constable, according to Smith. The party chose to crossendorse Sheila Sedlack’s candidacy for town clerk, Bouchard said.

Todd Arcelaschi, who was elected to the Board of Selectmen as a Republican in the last election cycle, previously announced plans to seek another term as a petitioning candidate, citing differences with Smith.

Smith said Tuesday that the RTC wished Arcelacshi well.

Incumbent Selectman Glenn S. Albanesius decided to step away from the role after two terms, Smith said.

The entirety of the Board of Selectmen turns over in each election cycle, and each seat is contested.