The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Lane, Valentine endorsed in Goshen selectman race
The slate for the first selectman race in Goshen has been set following caucuses for both parties Tuesday night. Democrat and current selectman William Lane received endorsement by his party without any opposition. The Republicans endorsed former first selectman Robert Valentine after he won a paper ballot over Lee Breakell by a vote of 86 to 46.
The first selectman’s seat in Goshen is being vacated by incum- bent Republican Wilrose Duquette, who will give up the seat to enjoy retirement. Duquette t o ok over for Thomas Breakell, Lee Breakell’s uncle, who resigned during his term to take a position at to take a manager’s position with Arethusa Farm in Litchfield.
Duquette succeeded him on Sept. 1 for “a number of reasons, one of which is that I thought it was the best thing for the town,” he said.
Valentine was first selectman from 2003 to 2011, when he stepped down to return to his business, Village Blacksmith Shop, which he started in 1980. He told the Register Citizen in May that he looks to take up right where he left off. Valentine said his time as first selectman was a good experience and that he’d begun to miss it. “I’m just very appreciative to get the nomination and now we work towards the November election,” he said.
Lane, 58, is an attorney with of- fices in Goshen and Waterbury, served on the Planning and Zoning Commission from 2009 to 2011 before being elected as a selectman for the past two years.
“I think we have an excellent team,” Lane said, noting that Dexter Kinsella, who was endorsed for selectman is a very good choice. “I think that he and I are going to make a great team.”
Lane had previously told the Register Citizen that he is familiar with small business and with the issues in town and has gotten more appreciation of the town by serving on the board of selectman.
Along with Kinsella, Democrats endorsed Joan Lang for the board of assessment appeals and Cynthia Barrett for Planning and Zoning. Mark Robinson has been endorsed for Fire Commissioner and Henrietta Horvay and Robert Goldberg got the nod as constables.
Republicans endorsed Steven Romano for selectman, Barbara Breor for town clerk, James Bernard for treasurer and Scott Tillman, James Korner, George Reis for the board of finance.