Politics & Government

Three Newcomers Join West Hartford's Republican Ticket

Four incumbents will seek reelection, and party chairman hopes to put West Hartford 'back on track to responsible governance.'

West Hartford Republicans met Monday night and nominated a slate of candidates for this November's municipal election that includes three newcomers as well as four incumbents.

There are currently two Republicans serving on the Town Council, and both Denise Berard Hall, who announced her intentions to seek reelection last week, as well as Burke Doar, were endorsed as part of this year's ticket.

Joining Hall and Doar on the Town Council slate will be West Hartford attorney Chris Barnes, who currently serves on the Risk Management Advisory Board; Aetna Real Estate Analyst Ted Pease, currently a commissioner on the Board of Assessment Appeals; Kimberly-Clark Sales Manager and Fair Rent Commissioner Dennis Swanton; and family law attorney Tad Bistor.

Steve Adler, who was elected to the Town Council as a Republican in 2011, left the party and became unaffiliated in January. He does not plan to seek reelection.

Board of Education seats currently held by Republicans Jay Sarzen and Mark Zydanowicz also expire this November, and both men, who were appointed in separate actions in Nov. 2012 to fill vacancies on the Board, will run this year. Sarzen replaced Lib Brassil Spinella and Zydanowicz replaced Ellen Brassil.

Republican Town Committee Vice Chairman Matt Connelly said in an email that the party is excited about the current slate of candidates. "They have such a wealth of experience to draw from, but most importantly when you sit down and itemize all of West Hartford’s challenges, this group of Republicans really is uniquely qualified to address some very specific shortcomings and failures of the policies of the Democrats on the Town Council and Board of Education."

Republican Party Chairman Peter J. Martin is hopeful that the party's candidates will be able to impact change in West Hartford. He said in an email, "We’ve all heard it said that when you’re in a hole, and it’s getting deeper, it’s always a good idea to stop digging. The current Democrat leadership has dug us halfway to China in terms of our fiscal challenges, ever-deteriorating town services and infrastructure and questionable decisions by the school board and administration.  This year’s Republican candidates are going to take away their shovels and put us back on track to responsible governance."

The Democrats set their ticket last week, which includes all six incumbent Town Council and Board of Education members as well as two new Board of Education candidates.


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