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07/23/2019 12:00 AMBy unanimous endorsement of the Republican caucus on July 22, incumbent Branford First Selectman James Cosgrove will run for a fourth consecutive term in the November 2019 municipal election, topping a GOP party ticket that seeks to retain the current, six-year Republican majority in the administration and on the Representative Town Meeting (RTM).
As it stands, Cosgrove will run uncontested for his next two-year term, together with running mate and three-term incumbent Second Selectman Joe Higgins. As previously reported here, the Democratic Town Committee (DTC) has endorsed just one 2019 selectman candidate, Ray Dunbar, for a seat on Branford's three-person BOS.
Following his endorsement at the GOP caucus on July 22, Cosgrove reflected on the past six years leading the town and heading into his first uncontested race for First Selectman.
"I think the tenor in town is that there are a lot of things that we are moving forward in a positive direction; and not just as an administration, but by engaging the community, as a whole," he told Zip06/The Sound. "So I hope that it's [uncontested] because people see us moving forward in a good direction and they have confidence in their government. We are focused on local issues, and addressing the issues that our town is faced with."
GOP administrative incumbents Treasurer Michael T. Nardella and Town Clerk Lisa Arpin as well as Democratic incumbent Tax Collector Roberta Gill Brooks were endorsed by the caucus for the November 2019 municipal election.
About 60 registered Republicans came out to take part at the caucus on July 22. The caucus was chaired by Ray Ingraham, who thanked all of the candidates, including many incumbents as well as some running for the first time.
Ingraham was also endorsed on July 22 as a 2019 incumbent candidate to return as a District 5 RTM member. In addition, Ingraham was endorsed as a new, four-year candidate for the Board of Education (BOE). The caucus also endorsed the re-election of current BOE chair Michael Krause to a six-year term on the BOE, and Dawn Perotti to run as four-year BOE candidate. Perotti is currently serving on the BOE after she was appointed in April 2018 to fill a vacancy.
From the floor, Branford Board of Finance member Robert Imperato introduced the entire 2019 nominating slate, which was then endorsed by the caucus without contest.
In his acceptance speech, Cosgrove thanked his family for their support and noted the town's Republican administration has always been "...the team with ideas and solutions" which governs following the concept "listen, learn, lead."
"We took the time to listen to the people, learn the issues and lead the way. And I think the entire team has taken that on for the last six years," said Cosgrove.
During times such as the state financial crisis, "... we've met the challenge," said Cosgrove, noting that the team has made decisions which uphold "...quality of life, responsible budgeting and responsible governance."
"The way we've been able to accomplish that is not only reaching across the aisle, but its engaging the community, listening to the community; and that's what we've done. And that's what we're going to continue to do," said Cosgrove. "Our work is not done here. We have a lot more to do for the great Town of Branford, and I look forward to serving everyone in the town."
Other candidates endorsed by the Branford Republican caucus for the November 5, 2019 municipal election are: Board of Assessment Appeals - Jason Driscoll; Constables - Robert J. Zettergren, Dennis G. Nardella, Susan Barnes and Kyle Nelson; RTM District 1 - Frank Twohill, Patricia Austin, Lindsay Greenberg and George David Wells; RTM District 2 - James Walker III and Chris Hynes; RTM District 3 - Peter Black and Rhoda Phillips; RTM District 4 - Patricia Anderson, Sean Kelly, James Stepanek and Kelly Ricciardi; RTM District 5 - Ray Ingraham, Dennis Flanigan, Donald Conklin and Carolyn Sires; RTM District 6 - Marc Riccio, Ed Prete and Anthony Alfone; RTM District 7 - Kevin Healy, Steve Sullivan.