Ridgefield Election Day 2023: What To Know

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Ridgefield residents go to the polls on Tuesday in what promises to be an inordinately civil election.

Most candidates are running without opposition. Only in the races for seats at the Board of Police Commissioners and the Board of Education will any candidate still be standing when the music stops.

In addition to voting for candidates, Ridgefield residents will also be asked to vote on nine questions for changing the Town Charter. Those questions are below, and more information can be found here.

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.

Return to Patch for results as they come in. Subscribe to free local news alerts and to receive real-time election results.

First Selectman

Democrat Rudy Marconi is running unopposed.

Selectman — Vote for Four

The Democratic candidates are Barbara Manners and Sean Connelly. Chris Murray is the Republican candidate, and Maureen Kozlark is a petitioning candidate.

Town Clerk — Vote for One

Republican Wendy Gannon Lionetti is running unopposed.

Town Treasurer — Vote for One

Democrat Molly McGeehin is running unopposed.

Tax Collector — Vote for One

Republican Jane Berendsen-Hill is running unopposed.

Board of Finance — Vote for Up to Three

The Democratic candidates are Joe Shapiro and Dave Ulmer. Greg Kabasakalian is the Republican candidate.

Board of Education — Vote for Up to Five

The Democratic candidates are Jonathan Paradiso and Wyatt Lipman. The Republican candidates are Christine More, Julia London and Sean McEvoy. Dawn-Marie Callahan is a petitioning candidate.

Board of Assessment Appeals — Vote for One

Democrat Stan Galanski is running unopposed.

Planning & Zoning Commission — Vote for Up to Four

The Democratic candidates are Robert Hendrick, Ben Nneji and Susan Consentino. Sebastiano D'Acunto is the Republican candidate.

Zoning Board of Appeals, Full Five Year Term Begins 2023 — Vote for One

Democrat Mark Seavy is running unopposed.

Zoning Board of Appeals, Full Five Year Term Begins 2024 — Vote for One

Democrat Robert Byrnes is running unopposed.

Zoning Board of Appeals, To Fill Vacancy for Two Years — Vote for One

Republican Alexander Lycoyannis is running unopposed.

Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate, Five Year Term Begins 2024 — Vote for One

Democrat Sky Cole is running unopposed.

Inlands Wetlands Board — Vote for Up to Four

The Democratic candidates are Susan Baker and Benjamin Nissim. The Republican candidates are Carson Fincham and Alan Pilch.

Board of Police Commissioners — Vote for Up to Two

The Democratic candidates are Issy Caporale and Ralph Money. The Republican candidate is Bob Hebert.

The Yes/No Ballot Questions on the Town Charter Revision Are:

Q 1. Shall the Town Charter be amended to make certain technical and administrative changes as recommended by the Charter Revision Commission?

Q 2: Shall the Town Charter be amended to provide that the position of Town Treasurer be changed from an elected position to that of a hired Town employee?

Q 3: Shall the Town Charter be amended to provide that the position of Town Clerk be changed from an elected position to that of a hired Town employee?

Q 4: Shall the Town Charter be amended to provide that the position of Tax Collector be changed from an elected position to that of a hired Town employee?

Q 5. Shall the Town Charter be amended to change the titles of the First Selectman, Board of Selectmen, and Selectman, to First Selectperson, Board of Selectpersons, and Selectperson?

Q 6. Shall Section 3-2 of the Town Charter be amended to provide that individuals who are not residents of the Town, but who own property in Town solely in their capacity as a trustee, are not entitled to vote at Town Meetings or at referenda?

Q 7. Shall the Town Charter be amended to make the following changes to the membership and terms of office of certain commissions:

(a.) amend Sections 5-1 and 5-3 to change the name of the Commission on the Aging to the Commission on Aging, and to change the term of appointment from three-year to two-year terms;

(b.) amend Section 5-8 to increase the size of the Economic and Community Development Commission from 7 members to 9 members, and to extend the term of office from 1 year to 2 years;

(c.) amend Section 5-14 to add two alternate members, both serving four-year terms, to the Water Pollution Control Authority; and

(d.) amend Section 5-15 to decrease the size of the Youth Commission from 16 members to 12 members and to add 2 alternate members to the commission?

Q 8. Shall the Town Charter be amended to make the following changes to the Town’s appropriation process:

(a.) amend Section 10-1(c) to eliminate the ability of the Town Meeting to decrease or delete any line item in the budget;

(b.) amend Section 10-2(b) to require that any appropriation requested by residents at a petitioned town meeting in excess of $3,000,000 be submitted to referendum;

(c.) amend Section 3-5(b) to provide that the required signatures for any petitions involving expenditures of $250,000 or more be increased from 5% to 7% of electors?

Q 9. Shall the Standards of Conduct set forth in Article 11 of the Town Charter and the authority of the Ethics Commission set forth in Section 5-9 of the Town Charter be modified as recommend by the Charter Revision Commission?