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07/30/2015 12:00 AMBy Jenn McCulloch
Sound Correspondent
On July 28, more than 115 gathered for the Democratic Town Committee (DTC) endorsement convention for candidates in the 2015 municipal elections. The names for the top of the ticket are familiar to many: former Tisko Elementary School principal Mark Rabinowitz for first selectman and former fire chief Jack Ahern for second selectman.
State Representative Lonnie Reed chaired the convention.
“It was an amazing turnout and we were really excited—a headcount of 115-plus is really great for a political convention to hear some speeches and get to know the candidates,” said DTC Chair Chris Sullivan. “We were excited to have Lonnie Reed there. She really helped ramp up the crowd and keep it a festive event.”
Leading the Democratic ticket are two newcomers to politics, but longtime public servants of the Town of Branford.
“Jack Ahern is excited to get involved in politics, build up the party, and get people involved,” said Sullivan. “Mark Rabinowitz is another immensely well-liked man in town with a lot of experience in education and the managerial experience of working with parents, teachers, and problem-solving. Both have decades of public service to the citizens of Branford and we are excited to have this caliber of candidates on our ticket.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better team of candidates at the top of the ticket. They are a perfect pairing for our party,” Sullivan concluded.
The DTC also endorsed dozens of other candidates to join the ballot for various boards and positions. Sullivan noted that many incumbents are seeking re-election.
Those nominated to the slate for the Board of Education include incumbents Mario Sabbatini and Ellen Michaels, along with new candidate Betsy Regan. All three candidates nominated for constable are incumbents: Fran Walsh, Rhoda Loeb, and Eunice Lasala.
Joanne Cleary, the town’s tax collector, was cross-endorsed by the Republican party. The DTC nominated new candidates to the Board of Assessment Appeals—Judy Freed—and to treasurer—Maggie Bruno. Bruno has served nearly a decade on the RTM and is also the treasurer of the DTC.
Pam Knapp is running for town clerk for a second time after running two years ago. She is currently the secretary of the DTC and has “a lot of experience with state statutes from her previous jobs,” according to Sullivan.
The DTC also nominated 21 people to the RTM, including (District 1) Alpha Coiro, Ainsley Highman, Ginny Stanlake, and Clare Torelli; (District 2) Josh Brooks and Peter Henschel; (District 3) Ali Abulugma and Doug Hanlon; (District 4) Maryanne Amore, Dorothy Docknovich, Adam Hansen, and Gaurishwor Sharma; (District 5) Marianne Hall, Yvette Larrieu, Susan Solomon, and Mary Jo Riddle; (District 6) Brian Levy, Chris Sullivan, and Marcia Wellman; and (District 7) Paula Gladdys and Linda Mollow.
For more information on the candidates, visit “Friends of Mark and Jack” or “Branford Democratic Town Committee” on Facebook.