Southington Republicans nominate incumbents, hope to maintain majority

By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff

SOUTHINGTON Republi- cans are looking to continue their four-year majority on the Town Council, nominating incumbents and current town leaders for this November’s election. Notably absent from the council slate are Chairwoman Victoria Triano and fellow incumbent Tom Lombardi, who are not seeking re-election.

Four of the six Republican councilors are running for re-election. Republicans hold six of the nine council seats in addition to majorities on every other town board and commission.

“We’re there to solve the problems that come up. We’re there to make sure the finances of our town are secure. We’re there to make sure every citizen, every taxpayer is heard,” said Mark Lajoie, Republican Town Committee chairman.

With Southington’s $170 million budget to manage, Lajoie said the town needs serious people to run it. The Republicans’ focus will remain on keeping low taxes and maintaining small government.

“We’ve got a strong team that we’re happy about. Good, talented, ethical people, good quality, integrity,” Lajoie said.

Republican incumbents Paul Chaplinsky Jr., Michael DelSanto, William Dziedzic and Jim Morelli will run for reelection in November. Jennifer Clock, a Planning and Zoning Commission member, and Tony Morrison, a Board of Finance member, are also running for seats on the council, replacing Triano and Lombardi on the slate.

Minority representation rules prevent a party from holding more than six council seats.

Five of the Board of Education Republicans will run for reelection: board chairwoman Colleen Clark, board vice chairman Joseph Baczewski, Jasper Williams, James Chrzanowski and Sean Carson. Cecil Whitehead, a local attorney and father of six, will run for a seat on the board in November. As expected, incumbent Dawn Anastasio, board secretary, was not renominated.

Three incumbent Republicans on the Board of Finance will be running again in November: board chairman John Leary, vice chairman Joseph Labieniec and Ed Pocock Jr. Wayne Stanforth, a former Board of Fire Commissioners and Board of Finance member, is running for a seat on the finance board.

Todd Chaplinsky and Rob Britton are running for seats on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Commission seat elections are staggered so not all are up for a vote this year. Republicans also chose to run Ron Lamoreaux Jr. for reelection on the Board of Water Commissioners. The party will run Domenic Perone for a seat on the water board.

An experienced team Lajoie said Republicans have had years to work together and have formed an experienced team.

“I think one of our big advantages is that everyone has been working together for quite some time. Everybody gels, everybody works to- gether, everybody strives to find solutions to issues,” he said.

Chaplinsky served on the Planning and Zoning Com mission years before joining the council in 2019. He was excited about the slate approved by Republicans last week.

“I hope that residents see that the six people that we’re running (for council) have provided very strong, very open, very transparent leadership in the last handful of years, ” Chaplinsky said. “I would say that’s the strongest, fiscally responsible four years the town of Southington has seen in decades.”

Chaplinsky said the candidates will be focused on budget issues, public safety and open space among other issues important to town residents. Incumbents Triano and Lombardi will be missed in town government, Chaplinsky said, adding he understood they needed time to focus on other pursuits.

Switching parties

Democrats are running a former Republican council chairman, Ed Pocock III, and a former Republican education board chairwoman, Terri Carmody. Democratic leaders have described Republicans as being in disarray. Lajoie said everyone nominated by the party had to meet technical and ethical qualifications for the position.

“I can assure the voters in Southington that the Republican team didn’t have to beg people from the other party to fill our slate,” Lajoie said. “There’s nothing gone awry here at team Republican. The team is stronger than ever. ” jbuchanan@record-journal.com 203-317-2230 Twitter: @JBuchananRJ

Clark University, Worcester, Mass., named Ethan Wellington to its dean's list for the spring semester.

Bryant University, Smithfield, R.I., named Nicholas Grabowski and Morgan Levesque to its dean’s list for spring semester.

Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, named the following students to its dean’s list for spring semester: Madison Callis, Molly Freitas, Phoebe Gediman, Andrea Nilson, Caroline Sechrist.

Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, awarded Lee Laprise a master's degree in accounting, and Carolyn Sechrist a bachelor's degree in women's and gender studies.

Elms College, Chicopee, Mass., named Mackenzie Alvarado to its dean’s list for the spring semester.

Emerson College, Boston, Mass., awarded Mackenzie Ramsey a bachelor's degree in media arts production.

Husson University, Bangor, Maine, named Beau Lasher to its president's list for the spring semester.

Midway University, Midway, Ky., awarded a degree to Alyssa West at its commencement in May.

Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., named Emily Fagan, Kelly Kozlowski and Samantha Thompson to its dean's list for the spring semester.

University of Hartford, W. Hartford, named the following students to its presidents list for the spring semester: Madison Albright, Delaney Beausoleil, Alexis Demaine, Emily Desantis, Janessa Freitas, Jennifer Martin, Raymond Moskus, Aidan Plourde, Johann Strasser, Tessa Susco.

University of St. Joseph, West Hartford, named the following students to its dean's list for the spring semester: Joseph Colaccino, Alyssa Giancarli, Olivia Heslin, Skyler Ibitz, Nicole Kolc, Hannah Peck, Julia Rostkowski, Juan Torres.

University of Tampa, Tampa, Fla., awarded Morgan Gray a bachelor's degree in allied health.

University of Vermont, Burlington, Vt., awarded Julia Restelli a bachelor's degree in environmental studies (magna cum laude).

Western New England University, Springfield, Mass., named Dakota-Marie Dinielli, Vanessa Xiques and Alexander Hernandez to its dean's list for the spring semester.

Western New England University, Springfield, Mass., named Elizabeth Lahoud and Joseph Michalic to its president list for the spring semester.

Sef Scholarships

Recent Southington High School graduates Madison Hendricks, Ryan Ogren and Alyssa Polverari are the recipients of the Southington Education Foundation’s 2023 scholarships; each earning $1,000. Hendricks received the SEF’s Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship, Polverari was named the recipient of the SEF’s STEM Scholarship, and Ogren was awarded the SEF’s Dr. Joseph V. Erardi, Jr. Scholarship, which goes to a graduating senior who is civic-minded and who has demonstrated the desire to help school, community and/or country.