Friday, January 4, 2019
www.towntimes.com
Volume 23, Number 29
Candelora: Bipartisan cooperation is necessary
Mary Daugherty Abrams is applauded after winning the Democratic primary for the 13th Senate seat Tuesday night in Meriden, Aug. 14, 2018. Left to right are, state Rep. Hilda Santiago, Mary Daugherty Abrams, City Councilor Sonya Jelks and Board of Education member, Pam Bahre.
By Mike Savino Record-Journal staff
The Jan. 9 start of the legislative session will see a dramatic shift in power dynamics. Democrats, currently tied in the Senate, will have a 23-13 majority in the chamber, and will grow their current 79-72 margin to a 92-59 majority in the House. The tied Senate and tight House forced more bipartisan Candelora cooperation over the last two years, most notably on the budget. State Rep. Vincent Candelora, RNorth Branford, said Democrats should strive to continue that cooperation going forward.
Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
Democrats: Message resonated with voters
“If there’s not a bipartisan relationship, frankly the Republicans could make it very difficult and very painful for any legislation to See Candelora, A3
Abercrombie
By Mike Savino Record-Journal staff
23-13 lead in the Senate and 92-59 lead in the House beginning in January.
Democrats saw Republicans chip away at their state legislative majorities for the better part of a decade, going from a veto-proof majority in each chamber in 2008 to a tied Senate and slim seven-seat lead in the House in 2016.
Rep. Cathy Abercrombie and Senatorelect Mary Daugherty Abrams, both Meriden Democrats, said the results show voters were attracted to the party’s message.
This past November saw a significant reversal, with Democrats now holding a
“I think that, as Democrats, we were foSee Democrats, A4
RSD13 school board to talk reconfiguration options By Bailey Wright Record-Journal staff
The Board of Education is expected to vote next week on the future of Regional School District 13’s grade configuration. The vote is expected at a Jan. 9 meeting, when the board will discuss the final results of its most recent survey to residents before making a decision on how to structure grades.
The survey asked residents to choose between the board’s final two options: one building track for all, with kindergarten through second grade in Brewster School and third through fifth grade in Memorial School; or two elementary schools, with grades kindergarten through fifth in both Brewster and Memorial schools. In both options, Strong Middle School would remain the
same, housing sixth through eighth grades, and Coginchaug Regional High School with ninth through 12th grades. Neither option includes Lyman School, which was deemed the most logical choice for closure due to the building’s conditions. “We have a system in this district that has included a two program design that has worked for many years,” Superintendent of Schools See Schools, A2
Members of the public review building and grade configuration options being considered by Regional School District 13 at a community information session at Strong School on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. Lauren Takores, Record-Journal