Ridgefield News
June 19, 1999

Referendum Passes By Wide Margin

School board member Bob Opotzner congratulates PTA head Mary Miller on tonight's victory for the town's schools. The two were among about 25 people who awaited the results at ERMS.

June 19, 9:05 PM -- Ridgefielders today voted their overwhelming support for a new Grade 6-8 middle school, to be built at the site of the current high school. With final returns showing 76.7% approval for the referendum, it was clear that the town has finally come together for the current proposal after three years of divisive struggling over other plans. Democratic school board member Bob Opotzner said, "I am so proud of the people of Ridgefield who have rallied aound our schools. So many people have worked so hard for passage of this project - Ridgefield will continue after today's vote as the #1 town in the state of Connecticut." PTA President Mary Miller, who has worked for years for a new middle school, said, "Today's margin of victory indicates that there is a broad base of support, which is good for Ridgefield. Now, we can be sure that our schools will continue to be the very best."

Town officials and school supporters await the reading of results at the 8:00 PM conclusion of voting at East Ridge. From left: READ members Rob Miller and Nancy Fogarty, school board membeer Doug Orr, Matt Opotzner and his dad, Democratic school board member Bob Opotzner, First Selectman Abe Morelli, and PTA head and active Democrat Mary Miller.

Ridgefield Democrats, who have been working for over three years to get a new middle school built, redoubled their efforts in the months leading up to tonight's landslide approval of the $34 million Grade 6-8 school. On June 4, the Democratic Town Committee became the first Ridgefield organization to officially endorse the school plan. Then, in the weeks leading up to the vote, Democratic school board members Bob Opotzner and Mary Pat Devine, Board of Finance Chairman Bernie Dzielinksi, and Selectman Mike Jones issued statements urging townspeople to adopt today's plan. Democrats also joined many other Ridgefielders in untold hours of face-to-face campaigning, phone banking, and attending public meetings related to the middle school plan.

The Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee, under the leadership of its chair Rudy Marconi, released a statement welcoming the passage of the referendum, and urging townspeople who are fed up with politics as usual to get involved in town government.

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