Updated: Petitions Gather Steam as Woodbury Residents Push for Special Election

With Friday's deadline fast approaching, those wishing to sign a petition to force a special election have two additional options.

1. According to a comment by Tom Arras, a petition is available at "Woodbury Saw and Mower on School Street Monday through Thursday 9am to 5 pm."

2. According to a comment by Nancy DeGrazia, Lou DeLuca has "graciously given his contact number of (203) 263-4785 for those who want to sign the ongoing petition for a special Election in the Town of Woodbury for Board of Selectman. Mr. DeLuca will personally deliver the petition to your home."

Petitions with 350 or more signatures must be turned into the Town Clerk's Office by this Friday, Dec. 20.

Have you signed a petition? 

Woodbury residents have started a petition to force a special election for a Republican seat on the Board of Selectmen.

The effort is in response to the appointment of Michelle Ecsedy as Selectman. Ecsedy, a longtime resident who has been active in the community, was voted in on Dec. 5 by First Selectman Bill Butterly and Selectman Martin Overton.

Ecsedy was chosen to fill the Republican vacancy left by Gerald Stomski after he declined his seat on the Board of Selectmen. The decision ran counter to the person nominated by the Republican Town Committee - longtime Selectman Barbara K. Perkinson - and that has upset some, who note that Perkinson received the highest number of votes after Stomski in the November election.

"Ecsedy should have never taken the position and Butterly should have never given it to her. The voters spoke and Barbara Perkinson was next in line with the next largest number of votes in the past election," Erik wrote in a comment on a Patch article. "Since Jerry resigned, and since she is Republican, she was the perfect choice since the candidate had to be Republican."

According to a Facebook post by Arthur McNally, Nancy DiGrazia, one of the residents calling for the special election, says "The Woodbury Republican Town Committee unanimously endorsed Barbara Perkinson for Selectman and it is only fair that she be given the chance to have the good people of this town make their decision who they want to fill the seat."

To force a special election, which would give Perkinson the chance to challenge Ecsedy. a petition with at least 350 signatures must be turned into the Town Clerk's office by Friday, Dec. 20.

Those circulating the petition hope to garner signatures this weekend. In McNally's Facebook post, DiGrazia writes that a petition signing is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 15, at 11 a.m. in front of LaBonnes in Woodbury.