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Introducing candidates Friday, July 24, 2015
Newington mayoral hopefuls share views on transit, open space By ERICA SCHMITT
By ERICA SCHMITT
STAFF WRITER
STAFF WRITER
NEWINGTON — Town Councilor Chris Banach is hoping fellow Democrats will endorse him as their candidate for mayor next week. The Democratic Town Committee plans to announce its slate for the November 2015 election Monday, July 27, at 7 p.m. at the Tunxis Grill on the Berlin Turnpike. Current Mayor Steve Woods announced in April he would not be running for re-election. Banach is the sole Democrat seeking the committee’s endorsement. A Newington native, Banach, 63, was chosen earlier this year to fill the council seat formerly held by Myra Cohen, who passed away in February. He also served on the council from 2005 to 2011. He left at the same time Christopher Banach he retired as a special education teacher in Newington schools, after a 35-year tenure. sparked recently, during the controversy Banach’s interest in running for mayor over House Bill 6851. The legislation, not voted on before the budget passed, would have formed a state agency to Free Volume 55, No. 30 guide development around transit stations. Newington’s elected officials were divided over its potential implications
NEWINGTON — Republicans have endorsed their slate for the November 2015 election, beginning with mayoral candidate Roy Zartarian. The town committee also endorsed Town Council incumbents Maureen Klett, Dave Nagel and Beth DelBuono, along with newcomers Tim Manke and Gail Budrejko. For the Board of Education, incumbents Jane Ancona-Seigel, Paul Vessella, Nancy Petronio and Robert Tofeldt are joined by newcomer Steven Silvia. This may be Zartarian’s first venture into the political arena, but he’s no stranger to town business. Before retiring in 2009, he worked for the town as an information technology specialist. In recent years, he became more involved in other town business, particularly environmental causes. An avid bird watcher and nature photographer, Zartarian, 68, advocated for the preservation of both Cedar Mountain and Mill Pond Park as open space. “One of the major points of our platform is preserving the town’s environmental
See TOWN, Page 8
INSIDE:
Roy Zartarian
assets,” Zartarian said this week. “In terms of open space — acquiring what we can, preserving what we already have and managing it properly.” The Churchill Park Nature Trail is one of several places he would like to make certain is well-maintained and managed. See REPUBLICAN, Page 5
Jimmy Buffett cover band comes to NHS as part of library’s fine arts series Page 4
Town seeks residents’ input on new design of Churchill Park Page 3