GOP Chairman "Encouraged" by Interest in Elected Positions

The Democrats have at least one mayoral candidate after Town Council Member Thomas DiDio formally declared his intentions on Wednesday. 

So where does it leave the local Republicans, who hold the mayor's seat and majorities on both the council and Board of Education?

"I am very encouraged by the number of very qualified and capable people who have expressed an interest in running as candidates for both council and Board of Education," Republican Town Committee Chairman Harold "Hal" Cummings said on Thursday. "Our nomination and recruitment committee has been interviewing potential candidates - including incumbents looking to run again as well as first-timers - since January."

Cummings said his initial fear heading into the 2013 campaign season was potential candidates being turned off by "the circus going on in Hartford and Washington."

"I thought people would be totally turned off and not interested in what is happening locally," Cummings said. "Just the opposite seems to be taking place.  More folks have asked me about getting involved in town government  than I can remember at any time during my seven years as chair of the Vernon Republican Town Committee.  

"I think there is a sense that while we may be powerless to affect what is happening at the state and federal level, at least we can make a difference here in Vernon."

Cummings said he should be in a position to release the full slate in May or June. Potential candidates are being interviewed, he said. 

"Republicans in Vernon have always felt that it is important that we  campaign as a team," he said. "We  can't accomplish very much when we do get elected unless we all work together, as a team. So we start our team-building right at the beginning."

Tuesday's annual town meeting could produce some interesting individual budgetary comments among Republicans, who do not have a consensus about the proposed 2013-14 spending plan. 

The GOP boat was also rocked by Board of Education Chairman Deal Houle, who had expressed his intention to change his voter registration status to unaffiliated from Republican in protest over Mayor George Apel's $1.5 million education budget cut. That change has not been officially entered into the voter records yet. 

"Frankly I think that kind of debate is healthy and should be encouraged.  Our Republican Town Committee has  the goal of supporting the most competent and qualified people available to run for office," Cummings said.  "We tell all our candidates that our job is to give you the support you need to get elected, once you are elected we will never tell you what to do - deciding how to vote on the issues is the candidates job. We have our differences. We take positions based on principle and honest belief. When you elect passionate people you get passionate argument.  
  
"After that, its up to the Vernon voters to decide if they agree with us or not."