Cheshire Election 2023 Voter Guide: Candidates, Polling Places

CHESHIRE, CT — On Nov. 7, Cheshire residents will cast their votes for key municipal positions, including seats on the town council and board of education. There will also be elections for board of assessment appeals, planning and zoning commission, zoning board of appeals and constables, along with five ballot questions.

Polls in Connecticut are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can use the Secretary of State’s website to find your polling place. Voters who are in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

Connecticut also allows for Election Day registration at designated centers in each town. People must be registered by 8 p.m. in order to vote using Election Day registration. To receive your absentee ballot, complete and sign an application and return it to your Town Clerk, or you can request an absentee ballot online.

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For Council At-Large, residents can vote for up to five candidates. The Democratic candidates are: Gregory Wolff, Deena Allard, Peter Talbot, A. Fiona Pearson, and Louis Todisco. The Republican candidates are David Borowy, Sylvia Nichols, John Milone, Sandy Pavano, and Tim Slocum.

The Town Council district races are as follows: 1st District) Republican David Veleber (unopposed); 2nd District) Democrat Jim Jinks and Republican Tucker Deming; 3rd District) Republican Don Walsh (unopposed); 4th District) Democrat Patricia Cramer and Republican David Nastri.

For Board of Education, residents can vote for up to four candidates. The Democratic candidates are Anne Harrigan, Anne Marie Cullinan, and Mark Ecke. The Republican candidates are Tim White, Jeffrey Falk, Faith Ham, and Tom White.

For Town Clerk, Patti King is endorsed by both the Democratic and Republican parties.

For Board of Assessment Appeals, Democrats Harold Jordan Jr. and Laura DeCaprio are running unopposed.

For Planning and Zoning Commission, residents can vote for up to three candidates. The Democratic candidates are John Kardaris and Casey Downes. The Republican candidate is Jeffrey Natale.

Democrat Christopher Affie is running unopposed for Planning and Zoning Commission Alternate.

For Zoning Board of Appeals, residents can vote for up to three candidates. The Democratic candidates are Eric Brushett, Debrah Manke, and Harold Orlinsky. The Republican candidates are Jackie Cianci and Doug Noble.

Republican Ginny Ogurick is running unopposed for Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate.

For Constables, residents will vote for up to two candidates. The Democratic candidates are Ron Gagliardi and Breina Schain. The Republican candidates are Randy Raines and Michael Rapetski.

Residents will also vote on the following ballot questions (with explanatory text below):

1. “Shall Town Of Cheshire Appropriate $2,500,000 For The Acquisition And Replacement Of Two Fire Trucks And Authorize The Issue Of $2,500,000 Bonds And Notes To Finance The Appropriation, The Amount Of Such Bonds And Notes To Be Reduced By The Amount Of Project Grants Received?”

This appropriation is for the replacement of fire apparatus, Pumping Engine #7, purchased in 2000, and Heavy-Duty Rescue #1, purchased in 2003, and for related administrative, printing, legal and financing costs. The appropriation will be inclusive of all State and Federal grants-in-aid. The apparatus have a life expectancy of 20-25 years. Replacing the apparatus will reduce costly repairs to the existing apparatus, allow adequate fire protection for the residents of Cheshire and provide the safest equipment for our firefighters. Delivery time is estimated to be 36 to 48 months.

2. “Shall Town Of Cheshire Appropriate $1,600,000 For The Road Improvement Program And Authorize The Issue Of $1,600,000 Bonds And Notes To Finance The Appropriation, The Amount Of Such Bonds And Notes To Be Reduced By The Amount Of Project Grants Received?”

This appropriation is for the Town’s ongoing road improvement program, including but not limited to road treatments such as reconstruction, milling and paving, chip seal, microseal, crack seal and other surface treatments. The appropriation may be spent for design, construction, equipment and materials, engineering, consultant and legal fees, related improvements, repairs or renovations, net interest on borrowings and other financing costs, and other expenses related to the project. The goal of this program is to maintain all Town roads at an acceptable level of service.

3. “Shall Town Of Cheshire Appropriate $460,000 For The Industrial Avenue Culvert Bridge Replacement And Authorize The Issue Of $460,000 Bonds And Notes To Finance The Appropriation, The Amount Of Such Bonds And Notes To Be Reduced By The Amount Of Project Grants Received?”

This appropriation may be spent for design, construction, equipment and materials, engineering, consultant and legal costs, related improvements, repairs or renovations, and other expenses related to the project. Said appropriation shall be in addition to prior aggregate appropriations in the amount of $450,000, thereby making the total project cost equal to $910,000. The Town Council shall determine the scope and particulars of the project and may reduce or modify the project scope; and the entire appropriation may be expended on the project as so reduced or modified.

4. “Shall Town Of Cheshire Appropriate $600,000 For Acquisition And Replacement Of Boilers At Dodd Middle School And Authorize The Issue Of $600,000 Bonds And Notes To Finance The Appropriation, The Amount Of Such Bonds And Notes To Be Reduced By The Amount Of Project Grants Received?”

This appropriation is to replace the two 20+ year old boilers at Dodd Middle School with high efficiency gas-fired condensing boilers. Existing boilers have been deteriorating due to years of moisture exposure. This project includes new gas trains, VFD-controlled recirculating pumps, in-direct domestic hot water heating and full DDC upgrade. The appropriation may be spent for design, engineering, acquisition, abatement, demolition, installation, related equipment and materials, legal costs, net interest on borrowings and other financing costs, and other expenses related to the project. The Town Council shall determine the scope and particulars of the project and may reduce or modify the project scope; and the entire appropriation may be expended on the project as so reduced or modified.

5. “Shall Town Of Cheshire Appropriate $750,000 For Window Replacement At Cheshire High School And Authorize The Issue Of $750,000 Bonds And Notes To Finance The Appropriation, The Amount Of Such Bonds And Notes To Be Reduced By The Amount Of Project Grants Received?”

This appropriation is for window replacements at Cheshire High School. The non-functioning windows being replaced are the original single pane windows with metal frames and are not energy efficient. Energy Star estimates up to a 31% savings in energy costs by replacing single pane with double-pane insulated glass and frames. The appropriation may be spent for design, engineering, acquisition, construction, related equipment and materials, legal costs, net interest on borrowings and other financing costs, and other expenses related to the project. The Town Council shall determine the scope and particulars of the project and may reduce or modify the project scope; and the entire appropriation may be expended on the project as so reduced or modified.