Which Way Will Easton Go?
July 26, 2007
Elaine Spicer's reason for
entering this fall's First Selectman race is simple.
"I absolutely love Easton," the nearly 20-year
resident said. "We have a lot of special resources
and intelligent, creative people who make this town
unique." Spicer and incumbent Selectman Robert
Lessler were unanimously endorsed at the Democratic
Town Committee's (DTC) July 18 caucus.
A former Selectman who served
from 1993 to 1995, Spicer is currently a member of
the Easton Library Board. Spicer has also served as
an alternate on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Following her tenure as Selectman, Spicer served on
the Charter Evaluation Committee, which studied Easton's
unique governmental structure.
"We have a real democracy
in the form of the Town Meeting, which is very powerful,"
Spicer said.
She holds a Masters in Business
Administration from the Wharton School of Business.
"I've had a lot of experience teaching on the
collegiate level as well as a strong managerial background,"
Spicer said. "I've been used to being the only
woman in the room - or in this case, the race."
Spicer has also served the Notre
Dame of Easton Church as Lector, group study leader,
parish council member and religious education teacher.
She is also a founding member of the state-wide Committee
for Children with Lyme Disease.
"This has become such a
crucial issue to so many Easton residents," Spicer
said. Those affected include her 21-year-old son.
While he has almost fully recovered, the experience
affected Spicer and her family profoundly. "[Lyme
disease] is a significant problem in this state, including
Easton," she said. "There is still a lot
to be done in addressing its proper diagnosis and
treatment."
Spicer said her leadership strengths
lie in "unification." Noting the political
divisiveness that has plagued Easton in recent years,
Spicer said she was committed to "bringing people
together." "I'm about building consensus,"
she said.
Lessler first served on the Board
of Selectman from 1997 to 2001. He was reelected in
2003 and has served ever since. "[Lessler] and
I share a commitment to preserving Easton's unique
character, supporting its excellent school system
and reducing the tax burden," Spicer said.
As First Selectman, Spicer said
she would have the ability to treat the position as
a full-time job. "I would be involved, accessible
and available at Town Hall with regular hours for
the same salary [as opponents working fulltime],"
she said.
"[Herrmann and Selectman
Scott Centrella] have fewer than two years total experience
[as selectmen]," Lessler said in a recent statement.
In contrast, Lessler and Spicer cumulatively have
almost 10 years of experience.
DTC Chairman Ron Kowalski said
he was "excited" about this year's Democratic
slate. "They reflect the makeup of our town.
These candidates have the right mix of skills, experience
and fresh perspective to bring our community together
and find solutions to the challenges we face,"
he said.
Additional Democrats running
this fall will be incumbents Alan Katz and Elin Cohen
for the Easton Board of Education; A. Reynolds Gordon
for Board of Assessment Appeals; Ray Ganim and Patricia
Berlin for Zoning Board of Appeals; Rita Seclow for
Library Director; and Gloria Bindelglass, Mark D'Augelli,
Richard Greiser and Irv Silverman for Constable positions.
Those running to become new members
of town boards are Claire Gold and Wiley Mullins for
the Board of Finance; Henry Egan for Town Treasurer;
and Roberta (Bobbie) Cable and Robert Schrage for
the Region 9 Board of Education.
A fourth candidate joining the
First Selectman's race is Paul Skritch. He is unaffiliated
with any party. An actuary and volunteer fireman with
the Easton Fire Department, Skritch said he is running
as the "nonpolitical" candidate. "I
simply became interested in running because I saw
there were things that could happen to make the town
better," Skritch said.
A self-described "fiscal
conservative," Skritch said one initiative would
include giving tax credits to Easton taxpayers sending
their children to private schools. "Why should
those taxpayers have to pay twice?" Skritch asked.
Akin to a voucher program,
Skritch said initiatives like those were necessary,
thinking-outside-the-box ways of making Easton an
"even better" place to live.
Which Way Will Easton Go?
