The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Democrats in control in Winsted
Incumbents on Board of Selectmen win, hold majority on top town panel
WINSTED — Winsted residents granted Democrats control of the Board of Selectmen for the next two years Tuesday, as they voted for incumbents to continue their leadership of the community.
Althea Candy Perez, Melissa Bird, Linda Groppo, Jack Bourque, Steven Sedlack, Candace Bouchard and Todd Archelaschi have won seats on the Board of Selectmen, according to Registrar of Voters Debbie Jones.
Perez, the current mayor; Bird; Bourque; Sedlack and Archelaschi are incumbent members of the Board of Selectmen. Bouchard served as a member of the board and mayor from 2013 to 2015. Groppo was the other candidate on the Democratic ticket, after incumbent Brian Shaughnessy did not run for reelection.
“It’s a good win for Winsted. We can keep the town moving forward with the town manager and staff,” said Perez. “I think there’s a consensus in the community that Winsted has moved in a good, positive way.”
Republican Town Committee Lisa Smith congratulated Democrats for the win Tuesday.
“Kudos to the Democrats and congratulations for getting their people out in force,” said Smith. “Obviously, I’m disappointed, but tomorrow the sun will come up and we’ll all move forward together.”
Bouchard would provide consistency and strong leadership for the community, Smith said.
Perez named continuing economic growth, combating blight, improving the school system to attract families and filling empty commercial buildings as goals for the next two years.
Democrats Michelle Hintz, Cheryl Heffernan, Alexandria Propfe and Republican Jamie Duffy were elected to four-year terms on the Board of Selectmen. Hintz and Propfe are incumbents and will be joined by fellow incumbent Democrat Christine Royer, who was re-elected to a two-year term.
Winsted residents noted a number of motivating factors as they left the Pearson School Tuesday — personal support for the candidates, their concern for the town schools, a connection to their generation and politics on the national level.
“I think it’s important to take part in our town politics... it’s our town, our livelihood,” said Maria Wilk McLaughlin, who said she supported the Democratic ticket. “I like where the town is going.”
Hallee Griffin, 21, said it is important for young voters to participate. She said he feels like Winsted is on the right track and voiced support for Republican candidates Shana DeVaux and Michelle Grant.
Ben and Alegra Davidson said they supported a mix of candidates Tuesday, including Archelaschi and Town Clerk Sheila Sedlack, who was running unopposed and was re-elected to another term in office.
“They do good jobs,” said Ben Davidson.
“They are about the people, not the politics,” said Alegra Davidson.
Robbin Liskin said she had been particularly pleased by the efforts of Perez.
“She’s professional. She looks at all the issues; she’s not a knee-jerk person,” said Liskin.
All four constable candidates — James Barber, Aubrey English, Richard Nalette, and Salvatore Lovetre III — were also elected, as there are four such positions.
There were 6,173 registered voters in Winsted as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Deputy Registrar Rose Osbourne.
Unaffilated residents made up the majority of the electorate — 2,876 claimed no party affiliation, as compared to 1,617 Democrats, 1,601 Republicans, and 79 members of other parties.
A total of 1,731 people cast ballots in the election, Jones said. This represents 28 percent of the registered electorate.