Election Day breakdown: What Southbury voters need to know
SOUTHBURY — While the town is doing its best to return to some form of normalcy during the pandemic, COVID-19 continues to affect this year’s local election.
Southbury Registrar of Voters Joseph Abruzzi, a Democrat, and Marie Greene, a Republican, said this year’s voting experience on Election Day on Tuesday won’t be much different than in 2020.
“The same COVID-19 protocols that were in place for the November 2020 election are still in place, according to state of Connecticut regulations,” Abruzzi said.
“Social distancing will still be followed, and voters need to wear masks.
“All our staff will be wearing masks, and shields will be worn too. We will have someone assigned to sanitizing each voting booth after each voter leaves.”
Taking advantage of the electoral process this local election cycle are 45 candidates — 23 Republicans and 22 Democrats.
Highlighting the list of Southbury politicians are first selectman candidates Jeffrey Manville, the incumbent and a Republican, and Democrat John Diehl.
The past three weeks Diehl has produced a spirited debate through the media with Manville over the Edgewood pool issue. Diehl raised yearslong concerns about the restoration of the pool at Ballantine Park and the pursuit of Edgewood Bath and Tennis Club and its pool in 2020.
When it was discovered upgrading the Ballantine pool would cost more than expected, the Board of Selectmen considered buying the Edgewood property.
The selectmen went into executive session to discuss the purchase and also decided to pay an engineer to do environmental research on the property.
When the soil was found to be contaminated, the town eventually backed away from buying the property.
Diehl believes residents should have a full review of that process. The Senior Services budget, taxes and the grand list are other issues that are important to Diehl.
The issue Manville is focused on is thefinancial stability of the town over the next 20 years. He cites Moody’s Investors Service upgrading Southbury’s general obligation bond rating from Aa2 to Aa1.
Manville believes the town’s commitment to fiscal responsibility has led to a stronger financial position under his watch.
The town has also seen a slight uptick in voter registrations.
“A lot of new people have moved into Southbury this year and that has produced an increase in voter registrations,” Abruzzi said. “It’s only maybe a 2 percent or 3 percent increase. But it’s more than what we normally see for a municipal election.
There will be limited voter registration on Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 106 at Town Hall. Abruzzi said this session is only for those who moved into town, turned 18 or become a U.S. citizen after the Oct. 26 registration deadline, as well as servicemen discharged within the past year.
Voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.on Election Day at three sites: the Firehouse (District 1) at 461 Main St. South, at the Public Library (District 2) at 100 Poverty Road, and at the Community Center (District 3) at 561 Main St. South.
Election Day voter registration will be held at Southbury Town Hall. Voters must complete the registration process before being issued a ballot.
Voters will be required to provide identification to prove their identity and their address. For a more detailed explanation of the process go to https:// www.southbury -ct.org/registertovote.
For more Election Day information, go to the town website at https:// www.southbury -ct.org/.
SOUTHBURY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
ROW A
First Selectman - John Diehl
Board of Selectmen – Justin Bette, Audrie DeRouen, Kimberly McNeill
Town Clerk - Lynn Dwyer
Board of Education – Tara Beall-Gomes, William Ollayos
Board of Finance – Robert Buck, Robert Pavlock
Board of Assessment Appeals – Marian Van Egas
Planning Commission
– Nancy Clark, Alex Gittines, Robyn Greenspan
Zoning Commission – Richard Ashby, Wendy Bernard, Chris Rempfer, Barbara Wheeler (alternate)
Zoning Board of Appeals – Kathy Fracassini, Marge Mullen
Inland Wetlands Commission – Barbie Granton, Rob DeCarli, Paul Fortier
Pomperaug Valley Water Authority – Rich Boritz
SOUTHBURY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES
ROW B
First Selectman – Jeffrey Manville
Board of Selectmen – Jason Buchsbaum, Greg Kuehn, Holly Sullivan
Town Clerk - Lynn Dwyer
Board of Education – Marion Manzo, Tom Marks, Heather Rodgers
Board of Finance – Brian Emerick, John A. Kelly Jr., John L. Reilly, Richard Hill (alternate)
Board of Assessment Appeals – Gabby Addison
Planning Commission – Ron Conti, Michael T. O’Rourke (alternate)
Zoning Commission – David Dicks Jr., Gary J. Giroux, Jay Hine (alternate)
Zoning Board of Appeals – Sharon Scarlett, David Pittari, John Allen Jr. (alternate)
Inland Wetlands Commission – Daniel Slywka, Rona Hovasapian (alternate)
Pomperaug Valley Water Authority – Rae A. Van Egas