By MARJORIE NEEDHAM
Middlebury Republicans on Nov. 3 won all the seats in town government they were seeking, led by incumbent First Selectman Edward B. St. John, who got 1,230 votes to the 941 cast for his Democratic challenger, Middlebury Board of Finance (BoF) Chairman Michael McCormack. Selectman Elaine Strobel got 1,227 votes, only three fewer than St. John. Then things got interesting. Democratic incumbent Selectman Ralph Barra got 899 votes. But state statute says McCormack, with his 941 votes, can take the minority selectman position if he so chooses.
On election night, McCormack said he would postpone his decision about the selectman position until the next BoF meeting, which was Nov. 12. McCormack was absent from that meeting. On Nov. 23, he told this newspaper he still had not made a decision on whether he would or would not take the selectman’s position. He said, “I’m just trying to make the best decision for the taxpayers.” It appears he can wait until Dec. 8, the day newly elected officials will be sworn in, to make his decision.
Because McCormack can’t serve as selectman and also serve on the BoF, he must choose between the two. He has been serving as chair of the BoF, but changes in the composition of that board may mean he will not be chosen to continue as chair. Republican David Cappelletti, who ran for re-election to the BoF as a candidate endorsed by the Democratic party, lost to Republicans Rita Smith and Dawn Calabrese. They got 1,203 and 1,355 votes, respectively, to Cappelletti’s 889 votes. Democrat Joseph Drauss got 639 votes.
Ever since election day, Barra has said he believes McCormack will take the selectman spot. At first, that seemed unlikely, but now it seems McCormack probably will choose the selectman position as the slot in which he can do the best job for the taxpayers.
For Board of Assessment Appeals, Republican Robert Flanagan defeated incumbent Stephen Ferrucci 1,221 votes to 807 votes.
Republicans Robert Smith (1,377), Ted Mannello (1,375) and Paul Phillips (1,413) handily defeated Democratic challengers Punyada Bhaduri (620) and Anastasia Persico (642) for the three Water Pollution Control Authority spots.
Republican candidate Robin Stanziale (1,384) defeated Democrat Anastasia Persico (678) for the town treasurer position. The current treasurer, John Calabrese, chose not to run for re-election.
Tax Collector Jean Dawes, Police Commissioners Fran Barton and Frank Cipriano, and 2-year term Library Trustee Robert Desmarais were unopposed.
For the two full-term library trustee positions, Republicans Peter Vaccarelli (1,366) and Bill Stowell (1,405) defeated Democrats Noa Miller (602) and Anastasia Persico (548).
For the 4-year library trustee position, Republican Ron Clark (1,302) defeated Democrat Sharon Bosco (694).
For Pomperaug Valley Water Authority, Democratic Ann Merriam Feinberg (674) was defeated by Republican Michael B. Dayton (1,323).
For the two spots on the Regional School District 15 Board of Education, Republican incumbent John Cookson (1,387) and newcomer Brenda Carter (1,419) defeated the Democratic challenger, Lois Yager (856).
