Norfolk Chooses Its Candidates for November

By Colleen Gundlach

On July 18, Town Hall was filled with politics from each end of the spectrum, when members of both political parties met on the same night – in separate rooms, of course – to decide on a slate of candidates to run for local office in this year’s municipal election.

There are not a lot of surprises in the names put forward, though there are a considerable number of never-before-run candidates. There are also the usual cross-endorsements by both parties. This happens for several reasons, but it is usually because both parties agree that the incumbent is doing a good job.

In this year’s proposal, there are three cross-endorsements. The Republicans chose to cross-endorse Democrats Matt Riiska for First Selectman and Chelsea Byrne for Treasurer. Likewise, the Democrats have cross-endorsed Republican Tax Collector Sarah Bruso this year. Also, in an interesting twist, unaffiliated candidate Edward (Ned) Barron is running on both tickets, but for different offices. He is running on the Republican ticket for Board of Education and Planning & Zoning Commission and as a Democrat for Board of Assessment Appeals.

There is a fairly large pool of candidates from which to choose for the remaining municipal offices. For Board of Selectmen, Alexandria (Sandy) Evans (R) and Paul Madore (D), both incumbents, are running. For Board of Finance, the choices are Grant Mudge (D), Bonnie Pritzker (D) and Jeffrey Torrant (R). For Board of Finance Alternate there is one candidate running, Amy Bennett (D).

For the Board of Assessment Appeals (BOAA), in addition to Barron, Marion Felton (R) is running, and Phylis Bernard (R) is seeking the BOAA alternate position.

The stiffest competition appears to be for seats on the Board of Education (BOE). With talk of school consolidation circulating around town once again, it seems that many people want to have a say. The candidates for BOE are Gordon Anderson (D), Edward (Ned) Barron (R), Virginia Coleman-Priscoe (D), John DeShazo (D), Kevin Gundlach (R), and Donna Rubin (R). These six people will be vying for three open seats on the board.

On the Planning & Zoning (P&Z) front there are four people running for the two open seats. Candidates are Edward (Ned) Barron (R), Marion Felton (R), Melissa Renkert (D) and Christopher Schaut (D). Running for P&Z Commission Alternate are Kevin Gundlach (R) and Steven Whalen (D). For the Zoning Board of Appeals, Mary Bazzano-Reeve (D) and Daniel Green (D) have thrown their hats into the ring. Rounding out the P&Z-affiliated positions are Alan Boucher (R) and Christopher Peterson (D), the candidates for Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate.