East Windsor GOP Nominates November Slate

The East Windsor GOP endorsed its slate of candidates on Monday evening with one major surprise.

Selectman Richard Pippin did not receive his party’s nomination to run for re-election.

Instead, the three candidates chosen are incumbent Jim Richards and two newcomers - Scott Morgan and Steve Dearborn.

Dearborn received the nomination from Jack Mannette, who said that Dearborn would represent the taxpayer on the board.

Mannette said that the current selectmen too often support Democratic First Selectman Denise Menard, which “has created problems in town.”

The Republicans also endorsed Bob Little and Bob Maynard - the current chair of the Board of Education - for the Board of Finance. Kathleen Pippin did not receive the nomination.

Maynard said that, in light of the last two years in which budgets were set via a town charter provision that called for a 2 percent spending increase when three referenda fail, he knows he has his work cut out for him.

“The voters the last two years indicated that they do not want a tax increase of more than 2 percent,” Maynard said. “I hope to keep the budget within 2 percent.”

In addition, Maynard said that he would like to see the town come up with a 5-year budget plan, and that it wouldn’t hurt if the Board of Education did the same.

Other nominations include the following:

Board of Finance Alternate: Paulette Broder

Board of Education (Full term): Kathy Simonelli and Kathleen Bilodeau

Board of Education (2-year term): Randi Reichle

Board of Assessment Appeals: Brian Turley

Zoning Board of Appeals: Scott Morgan, Rosemary Raber

Zoning Board of Appeals (2-year term): Nolan Davis