Ridgefield News
January 5, 1998

Democratic Town Committee Endorses Slate

Democrats packed the Town Hall Meeting Room Monday night as they discussed nominating a new Town Committee. (From left: Jim Diamond, Cliff Appel, Mark Robinson, Ethel Eckhaus, Marianne Loomis, Rudy Marconi, Barbara Manners, Mary Pat Devine, Bob Opotzner, Lou Villamana, Paula Bruns, Mary Gelfman, and Ed Pearson)

January 5 -- For the first time in most Ridgefielders' memories, more Democrats want to be on the Town Committee than there are seats at the table. The Democratic Town Committee, which for years has struggled to keep all its 21 positions filled, met tonight to consider its slate for the next two years' Town Committee. Chairman John Kukulka reported that nearly 30 town Democrats had expressed an interest in serving, including 20 of the 21 incumbents. The ticket will be finalized at a Caucus of registered Ridgefield Democrats next Tuesday, January 13. If the caucus-elected slate is contested, a primary would be scheduled for March, although a primary has not been called in Town Committee elections as far back as anyone can remember.

(Right, DTC member Mike Kaufman and chairman John Kukulka explain the bylaws)

The heated interest in serving produced a lively debate over whether the Town Committee should endorse a slate, or merely provide next week's Caucus a ballot with all the aspirants' names. Veteran Ridgefield Democrats Mary Gelfman, Barbara Manners, and Jim Diamond recommended the more open approach, fearing that endorsement of a slate consisting mostly of current Town Committee members would appear self-serving. George Kain, Bob Opotzner, and Mark Robinson joined Dave Nichols in opining that it was the Committee's responsiblity to recommend slates of candidates to Ridgefield Democrats, and that recommending candidates for the next Town Committee was a key obligation of the DTC. By roughly a 2-to-1 margin the Committee voted to recommend a slate to the Caucus, and in a unanimous vote endorsed a ticket consisting of the 20 current members who are seeking reelection, with Democratic leader Rudy Marconi the Committee's unanimous choice for the single vacant slot. Current DTC membership list

Board of Finance Chairman Bernie Dzielinski, who led the DTC in the 1970's, told the meeting that he was delighted to once again see a high level of interest among Ridgefield Democrats. "It's testimony to the great job this whole group has done over the last couple of years," Bernie told his fellow Democrats. "It really means something to be a Democrat in Ridgefield, and this high level of interest in service bodes well for the future of the party in town."

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Brought to you by the Ridgefield, Ct. Democratic Town Committee, John Kukulka, Chairman.

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