Goshen, Morris choose incumbents, Warren picks Angevine

In spite of reported low voter turnout across the state, those voters who participated on Election Day made decisive choices on who would run their towns for the next two years.

Goshen

Incumbent First Selectman Robert Valentine defeated writein candidate

Thomas Carey, securing a ninth term in office. Carey, who challenged Valentine at the Republican Town Committee’s caucus this summer, failed to gain his party’s endorsement and ran as a writein. According to the secretary of the state’s website, Valentine received 802 votes to Carey’s 370.

The Board of Selectmen also includes Democrat Dexter Kinsella with 540 votes and Republian Mark Harris with 588 votes.

Town Clerk Barbara Breor ran unopposed and was reelected with 1,033 votes. Town Treasurer James Bernard was reelected with 1,010 votes.

For the Board of Finance, voters elected Democrat Amy Tobin with 451 votes, and Republicans Scott Tillmann with 881 votes and James Korner with 782 votes. Democrat William Lane was elected to serve a fouryear term on the board with 723 votes, and alternates Patrick Reilly Sr., a Democrat, and Republican Alan Booth were elected with 617 votes and 817 votes, respectively.

Republican Robert Harmmon was elected to the Board of Assessment appeals with 988 votes. On the Planning and Zoning Commission, voters chose Democrat LuAnn Zbinden with 596 votes, Republican Laura Lemieux with 834 votes and Republican Don Wilkes with 886 votes. Republican Patrick Lucas was elected to fill a twoyear vacancy on the board with 967 votes, and Democrat Leya Edison was elected to serve as an alternate member with 628 votes.

During his campaign, Carey challenged Valentine on a number of issues, including the Goshen Housing Trust, taxes and land use. Valentine said Carey focused too much on accusations. “It was a campaign that went into the gutter, rather than talking about true facts,” he said. “That might work in other towns, but frankly, I don’t think it works in Goshen.”

Valentine said his tenure as first selectman and his accomplishments spoke for themselves, and cited his 10year road plan, GIS, geologic and open space, mapping, and a comprehensive website, as well as a strong financial position, as reasons for his victory. “I think people reacted to that,” he said.

“I’m very thankful to the voters,” he said. “I put thankyou notes on my campaign signs today, and I’m glad I don’t have to deal with the negative campaign. I can get back to work.”

Warren

In Warren, incumbent Republican First Selectman Craig Nelson was defeated by resident Tim Angevine, whose family has owned the Angevine Tree Farm for generations, by a vote of 308280. Angevine ran as a petitioning unaffiliated candidate.

Angevine will serve on the Board of Selectmen with Nelson and Republican Alexandrea Papp, who defeated candidate Stephen Warshaw 299249. Republican Colleen Frisbie ran for treasurer unopposed, gaining 454 votes.

Angevine said he was happy with the outcome of the election. “I’m relieved, excited, and motivated to get things started,” he said.

He said he decided to run as a petitioning candidate in July. “There were a number of issued I was confronted with in town, where it seemed like the townspeople were not getting the opportunity to be involved in some decisions before they happened,” he said. “For example, the town owns a farm on the north side of town, Wasley Farm, and there has never been a plan or committee to discuss the future of the property.

“I learned that the Board of Selectmen had engaged a neighbor for a possible sale of the farm. The town bought it about 10 years ago, and uses were discussed, but no committee was ever formed and there was no formal discussion on how it would be used,” he said. “I’d like to form a committee to discuss its uses, with the thought that we’re not exploring it to develop it, but to find its potential, either for open space or recreation, for example, have it as an asset for the future. That’s one of the things I want to do.”

For now, Angevine said, he hopes to work togther with Nelson and Papp on the board. “I hope to rebuild our relationship,” he said, referring to Nelson. “My biggest short term goal is to create relationships in town, especially within town hall, to do my job. Then I can begin to form an agenda.”

Morris

Incumbent Republican First Selectman Tom Weik secured a third term Tuesday, defeating challenging Democrat Kevin Curley, 604336.

Winners on the Board of Selectmen were Democrat Vinnie Aiello with 341 votes and Republican Erica Dorsett with 566 votes. Petitioning candidate Kevin Deroehn also ran for the board and received 36 votes.

For the Board of Finance, voters chose Democrat Kristine Toma with 411 votes and Republican David Fenn with 605 votes. Republican Hunter Weik was elected as an alternate member with 651 votes.

On the Planning & Zoning Commission, Democrats Kevin Curley and Barbara Bongiolatti won with 444 votes and 487 votes, respectively, and Republican Robert McIntosh won with 603 votes.votes.

Region 6

A ballot question for voters in Warren, Morris and Goshen, posed by Regional School District 6, also passed. Voters approved a district referendum question that will allow for sixthgrade students to attend Wamogo Middle School starting with the 202122 school year.

“This was a historic moment for the district and provides an opportunity for the first significant education plan change since 1970, and first grade configuration change since 1953,” Superintendent of Schools Chris Leone said in a statement.

Leone said he would ask the Board of Education to “create an inclusive implementation plan by January 2020” at its Nov. 18 meeting. “It is essential this implementation plan provides the opportunity for everyone; students, staff, parents and community members, in designing the future of Wamogo Middle School,” he wrote. “This work is important, will be thoughtful and not rushed. As with past planning processes, it will be rooted in collective feedback and diverse opinions.”