Voters face full slates in county races
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Staff Report - Published: January 27, 2009
Town Meeting Day will once again put a number of decisions before voters in and around Rutland County.
While a few towns have no contested races, all but one of the seats on the Fair Haven Select Board are in play and a handful of seats around the county are subject to three-way races.
Benson has two School Board competitions. Incumbent Tobi Silver will face challenges from Jody Goodhue and Robert Lowell for a three-year seat, while newcomers Eric Hults, Bobbi Jo Bean and Shelbie Wing will vie for the two one-year seats.
Brandon has no contested races.
In Castleton, former Selectman Joseph Bruno and current Selectman Patrick Eagan will compete for the three-year seat being vacated by board Chairman Thomas Ettori. Eagan was serving a one-year-term. Meanwhile, Ettori joins incumbent Selectman James Leamy and challenger Walter Ducharme in running for the two one-year seats on the board. Town Clerk Katy Thornblade is also facing a challenge from Tamitha Howard.
Voters will be asked to weigh in on one contested race in Chittenden, according to Town Clerk Roberta Janoski. Incumbent Constable Scott Poljacik is vying for a one-year term as the town's law enforcement official against Timothy Nolan.
Clarendon voters will have a choice between two candidates vying for a three-year seat on the Select Board. Incumbent Nancy Buffum is being challenged for the position by Michael C. Lanfear Jr. in the only contested municipal race.
In Danby, Byron Battease will square off against Selectman Michael Blair for his three-year seat on the board.
Four out of five seats on the Fair Haven Select Board are in contested elections this year. Former Chairman John Lulek is challenging Chairman Ron Adams for Adams' three-year seat. Another former chairman, Robert Richards, is in a three-way race for two one-year seats with incumbents Julie Ellis and Ray Bunker.
Finally, former Selectman Jay Brown is challenging Selectman Jeff Sheldon for the remaining year of an unexpired three-year term. Sheldon was appointed to replace Will Dodge after Dodge resigned from the board last year. The town will also have a race for first constable, with Bryan Rooker challenging incumbent Donald Proctor.
In Hubbardton, former Selectman Dwayne Gibbs is challenging incumbent Selectman Nathan Booth for Booth's three-year seat. Voters must also decide on a $275,000 bond for a new firehouse.
Ira's only contested race is for second constable, with Clyde Fitzgerald challenging incumbent Frannie Lloyd. Town Clerk Candace Slack said Fitzgerald is also running unopposed for first constable, and cannot hold both offices.
Killington elects officers from the floor.
Mendon's only contested race will be for a seat on the three-person Select Board. Tracy Adams and Bill Godaire will vie for the three-year seat being vacated by Betsy Reddy. Town Clerk Ann Singiser will also retire at the end of her term and Jeffrey Bradley, the only person to file for candidacy, is set to assume the reins of that office.
Middletown Springs voters will be asked to choose between two newcomers vying for a seat on the Select Board and three candidates competing for the road commissioner job. In the Select Board race, Christopher Larson and Robert Zorn are running for a two-year seat left vacant by Robin Chestnut-Tangerman. The three-way road commissioner race pits incumbent William Reed against challengers Ron Dufour and Robert Zorn for the three-year post
Mount Holly has no contested elections this year.
There are no contested races for municipal or school posts in Mount Tabor this year and there is an open seat on the Union District 23 School Board.
Two newcomers are competing for a vacant seat on the Pawlet School Board. Susan Ceglowski and Laura Norse are running for a school director post left vacant by David Lindberg in the only contested race on the ballot.
Pittsfield elects officers from the floor.
Pittsford has no contested elections, according to Town Clerk Helen McKinlay, but the Select Board will ask voters if they want to allocate $91,000 to either join the Brandon Mosquito District or have the town pursue mosquito control on its own.
In Poultney, Mark Fedolfi is challenging incumbent Tracee Oakman Rupe for a two-year seat on the School Board.
Proctor's town meeting will feature two Select Board races this year. Incumbent Michael O'Malley faces a challenge from newcomer Sue Feenick for a three-year spot on the board while newcomers Bill Champine and Eric (Rick) Anderson are vying for a two-year seat left vacant by Peter Jalbert.
Rutland Town has three candidates — Russell Goodrich, Joseph Dicton and Rodney Cioffi — vying for a two-year seat on the Select Board. Treasurer Marie Hyjek is facing a re-election challenge from Anita Duth. Duth is not running for town clerk, leaving Hyjek unopposed for re-election to that position.
In Shrewsbury, Mark Goodwin is running against Sharon Winnicki for a three-year term as the town clerk. Goodwin was appointed to the position by the Shrewsbury Select Board last year to complete the term of Clerk Anne Haley, who died July 14.
Sudbury has no contested races, according to Town Clerk Steve Sgorbati.
Tinmouth has no contested races.
In Wallingford, Selectman William Lohsen has decided not to seek re-election after more than a decade on the board. Selectman Frank Bruce will seek the three-year seat being vacated by Lohsen. That has set up a three-way race for the two-year seat now held by Bruce, as Rose Regula, Robert Minter and Derek Farmer have filed petitions.
Wells has a three-way race for Select Board, with newcomers Charles Martelle, Robert Davis and Brian Ramey competing for a single three-year seat.
West Haven has no contested elections.
West Rutland also has no contests.
In Addison County, Middlebury's only contested race is for library director, but Town Clerk Ann Webster said the Select Board will decide tonight whether to place a question on the ballot on whether the local option tax passed last year should be suspended for a year.
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