Goshen Republicans Choose Change

Note: This article includes an update from the print version, correcting an error in the original article regarding the rules for minority party representation on boards and commissions..

On July 18^th, nearly 400 Goshen Republican voters gathered in the Center School gymnasium for their Town Committee caucus, and they voted resoundingly for change. Three positions on the party’s slate of candidates for the Fall municipal election were contested – a Selectman’s seat, being vacated by the retiring Mark Harris, and two seats on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Board of Selectmen
For the open Selectman’s seat, Dawn Wicks Wilkes, who was supported by retiring Selectman Mark Harris and former 1^st Selectman Bob Valentine, faced off against Scott Olson, who was supported by current 1^st Selectman Todd Carusillo. Wilkes is the current Republican Registrar of Voters and Vice President of the Goshen Housing Trust.  Olson is a local businessman and Chairman of the Economic Development Commission.

Wilkes, who ran on a platform that included support for affordable housing options, faced strong opposition from voters who were opposed to the Town’s Affordable Housing Plan and the means by which it was developed. Olson effectively argued that the Housing Trust had unduly influenced the Town’s Housing Plan and that the plan did not reflect the will of the people of Goshen. “We cannot allow any corporate entity to dictate the direction and future of our town” Olson said in his candidate’s statement to the The Goshen News, last month. He expressed concern about what he called “the political stronghold that The Goshen Housing Trust Inc. (a private affordable housing development corporation here in town) is trying to gain on the town's government.” He also called for the formation of an Ethics Commission. Olson prevailed by a staggering margin of 326 to 47.

Planning & Zoning Commission
In the Planning and Zoning race, four people were nominated to fill three open seats. Nominated were current Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Don Wilkes, husband of Selectman candidate Dawn Wicks Wilkes, current Planning and Zoning Alternate Jim Withstandley, Briar Hill Farm owner and construction manager Jon Carroll, and Botelle Elementary School teacher and recently-appointed Goshen Emergency Management Director, Shilo Garceau. Garceau is a long-serving EMT in the Goshen Volunteer Fire Co.

While Wilkes emphasized experience and continuity in his candidate’s statement, Carroll and Garceau allied their campaigns and ran on a platform of greater transparency, generational change and greater receptiveness to public input. They produced and mailed joint campaign literature in conjunction with Selectman candidate Scott Olson. Withstandley spoke to the Caucus about his deep personal connections to the Town and its people.

The results clearly indicate that Town Republicans are embracing the changes proposed by Carroll and Garceau.

Garceau:         315
Carroll:            304
Withstandley:  92
Wilkes:              58

As a result of the balloting, Garceau, Carroll and Withstandley will advance to the November election ballot, and will compete with Democratic candidate Lu-Ann Zbinden, the only nominated Democrat for that position. Three of the four will be elected.

Note: In the original version of this article it was erroneously reported that Zbinden would automatically be seated to fulfill minority party representation requirements. This was due to a misunderstanding of the applicable law. CGS § 9-167a limits the maximum number of members (generally two-thirds of the total) who may belong to the same political party on most state and local boards, commissions, legislative bodies, committees, and similar bodies, whether elected or appointed. However, for a board of 5 members, the rules allow 4 to be from the same party. The Goshen News regrets this error and will print this correction in its next print edition.

Uncontested Positions

Most positions only had one candidate running, including the First Selectman, for which incumbent Todd Carusillo was re-nominated. The full slate of candidates endorsed by the Caucus is as follows:

*The indicated candidates are designated “place-holders” and will not appear on the ballot. It is common practice in both major parties to designate such place-holders in the caucus, with replacements to later be selected by the Town Committee Chair. On July 25^th, Republican Town Committee Chairman Tony DeMarco submitted the names of Lorraine Lucas and Russell Hurley in replacement of the two place-holder candidates.

What Happens Next?

Connecticut General Statutes include provisions for additional candidates to petition for a place on the ballot. If the total number of petitioners plus the endorsed candidates for any particular position exceeds the number of open seats, a primary will be held on September 12^th. Candidates have until August 9^th to submit the required petitions.

Final elections for town officials will take place on Tuesday, November 7^th.