The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
GOP candidates oust school board incumbents
Newcomers at center of debate on how race is taught in schools
GUILFORD — A group of newcomer Republican candidates — at the center of the town’s debate on how race is taught in schools — have ousted their party incumbents for reelection to the Board of Education.
The curriculum debate has been led by local parents and members of the organization Truth in Education, which endorsed five candidates for the Board of Education — Bill Maisano, Nick Cusano, Tim Chamberlain, Alexandra Passarelli and Danielle Scarpellino.
A total of 183 registered Republicans participated in the caucus, which was held
Thursday at the Nathanael B Greene Community Center.
Maisano received 122 votes, followed by Cusano (119), Chamberlain (118), Passarelli (116) and Scarpellino (112) to earn the party’s endorsements, according to Cyndi Preble, of the Guilford Republican Town Committee.
Incumbent candidates were defeated by 45 or more votes. Joseph Golino received 71 votes, Ted Sands had 48 and Amy Sullivan had 47.
Similar movements are occurring in other Connecticut towns. In New Canaan this week, newcomer Republican candidates — on a mission to change the district’s curriculum — ousted their GOP school board incumbents.
“At (Thursday) night’s Republican caucus, the people of Guilford clearly spoke and asked for a change to our Republican representatives on the
Board of Education,” the Guilford Republicans wrote on Facebook on Friday.
Sullivan, who is the vice chair of the Board of Education, and Sands were each first elected to the panel in 2013. Golino was appointed to the board in 2020.
“We would like to thank Joe, Ted and Amy for their hard work and we look forward to learning more about Bill, Nick, Tim, Alexandra and Danielle in the coming months leading up to the election,” the Republican organization wrote on Facebook.
Kristen Peck is the other GOP member of the school board whose seat is not up for reelection in November.
The new candidates could prompt changes to how the board operates. Board members have been in support of the district’s social justice and equity movement, which some — including Peck — have referred to as critical race theory, a controversial academic framework through which to view systems of racism and oppression in America.
Guilford officials have denied that critical race theory is being taught in the town’s schools.
In April, Board of Education approved a statement on the district’s social justice and equity initiative. Peck raised concerns about the statement, but ultimately voted to approve the message, according to meeting minutes. Golino was the only Republican who voted against the statement.
Board of Education Chair Kathleen Balestracci and members John DellaVentura and Richard Hersh, all Democrats, are not up for reelection until 2023.
The two Democratic openings are for Moira Rader, the board’s secretary, and for Mary Best’s seat. Both were elected in 2017.
The Guilford Democrats announced Thursday night that their candidates will be Rader and newcomer Arnold Skretta.