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10/11/2017 08:28 AMWhile there is no challenge for first selectman in Madison’s municipal elections on Tuesday, Nov. 7, political parties are battling for seats and control on other major boards in town. According to the Registrar of Voters’ lottery conducted on Sept. 18, candidates will appear on the ballot in the following order: Democrats, Republicans, and then Green Party.
No matter the turnout or the vote count on Nov. 7, current First Selectman Tom Banisch (R) gets to keep his office for another two years as the Democrats and other third parties chose not to run a candidate this time around.
For the Board of Selectmen (BOS)—a five-member board with a two-year term—much will stay the same. Democrats Al Goldberg and Scott Murphy will keep their seats as will Republican Bruce Wilson. Current Republican Selectman Bob Hale announced earlier this year that he will not seek re-election. However, as other parties did not put up additional candidates, Republican Town Committee nominee Jean Ferris will win the fifth seat on the BOS. For this board, voters will be asked to select any two of the candidates on the ballot.
For the Board of Finance (BOF)—a six-member board with a four-year term—shift in party power is a possibility and the board will be looking for a new chair, as current BOF Chair Joe MacDougald (R) is not running for re-election. When voters enter the polls on Election Day, they will be asked to vote for three of the following candidates: Judith Hession Friedman (D), Jean Fitzgerald (R), Ken Kaminsky Jr. (R), Peter Roos (R), and Owen Charles (G). The current balance of power on the BOF is four Republicans to two Democrats.
For the Board of Education (BOE)—a nine-member board with a four-year term—a shift in party power is a possibility and a new chair is a certainty as current BOE Chair Jean Fitzgerald (R) is running for the BOF. When voters walk up to the ballot box, they will be asked to vote for any five of the following candidates: Matt Parthasarthy (D), Alison Keating (D), Emily Rosenthal (D), Kirk Barneby (R), Jessica Bowler (R), Violet McNerney (R), and Michael P. Abbondandolo (G). Five candidates will be elected, but not more than three from one party. The current balance of power on the BOE is five Republicans to four Democrats.
For the Board of Assessment Appeals, residents are asked to vote for one of the following candidates: incumbents Shirley Taylor (D) or William Lewis (R). Both will be seated on the board.
For the Zoning Board of Appeals, residents can vote for any two of the following candidates: Richard Gilbert (D), Jason Brown (D), incumbent William H. Piggott (R), and Jeanne Wilson Stevens (R). Two will be seated.
For Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate, residents can vote for any two candidates but there is only one name up this year: incumbent Charon Squitiero (R), who will be re-elected.
On Election Day, polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. at both polling stations. Voters in District 1—those residents who live in homes on the even-numbered side of Green Hill Road and south—-vote at the Senior Center, 29 Bradley Road. Voters in District Two—those residents who live in homes on the odd-numbered side of Green Hill Road and north—vote at Dr. Robert H. Brown Middle School, 980 Durham Road.
For those registered voters looking to vote absentee, absentee ballots are now available at the Town Clerk’s Office located at 8 Campus Drive. Anyone with questions about their registration status, absentee ballots, how or where to vote, should contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 203 245-5672.
Editor’s note: Board of Finance candidate Peter Roos (R) is the father of The Source Staff Writer Zoe Roos.