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07/21/2017 12:00 AMGuilford Republicans approved their slate of candidates for the 2017 November election at the Republican Caucus on July 20. However, this may not be the final list of candidates voters see on the ballot this fall as the chance of a primary looms.
Bob Hartmann leads the ticket as the nominated first selectman candidate. Joining him on the ticket for the Board of Selectman (BOS) is incumbent Charles Havrda and current Board of Education (BOE) member Susan Koch Renner.
Hartmann’s bid for first selectman didn’t go unchallenged. Current Board of Finance (BOF) member Ken Mackenzie put forward his name for the nomination, citing his financial experience and electability. The final vote was close, with Hartman taking in 77 votes and Mackenzie taking 71.
“I accept, I am thrilled, I am honored and I am humbled,” said Hartmann. “This is the point from which we go forward and it is time to unify. I think we have to stand and get in front of [Democratic first selectman candidate Matt] Hoey and their agenda. We are the people who can do it and this is all for one and one for all.”
With a close vote, Mackenzie said the chance of a primary challenge has not been ruled out.
“I am certainly going to give it some serious thought,” he said. “I think you can see that it is a pretty even split and I will have to talk to my supporters and see…I would say there is a decent chance that I will force a primary, a very, very good chance that I will force a primary.”
Filling out the rest of the republican ticket, the caucus put forward incumbents Peter Goletz and Jeffrey Beatty for the BOF as well as Jonathan Trotta, who served on the BOF two years ago.
For the BOE, the caucus voted to put forward incumbents Ted Sands and Amy Sullivan as well as Vincent Baglio.
Republican Town Committee Chair Gloria Nemczuk said for a primary to go forward, the candidate has to obtain 173 signatures by Wednesday, Aug. 9, which would call a primary on Tuesday, Sept. 12.