Jewett City Party Seeks Candidates

Party aims to provide choices in Jewett City
by Julie A. Varughesse - Norwich Bulletin 01-15-2007

JEWETT CITY --A new political party is being welcomed by some residents who are tired of the current administration and say they want more choices.

Ron Ward, founder of the Jewett City Party, is looking for candidates for the May 7 election and will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 24 in the first-floor meeting room of Town Hall to endorse candidates for each elected office.

Ward wants to run against Borough Warden Cynthia Kata, a Democrat. But first he has to fill out paperwork with the Secretary of the State's office and file petitions for each candidate, including himself.

The deadline for filing petitions is 4 p.m. Feb. 6. March 13 is the last day to file a statement of endorsement for a minor party candidate with the secretary of the state.

Ward said he wants to give voters a choice not only in May when the borough election is conducted, but also in November for the Griswold election.

Borough resident Donna Ward-Gurling, who moved to Jewett City a year ago, said she didn't even know there was a borough warden until Ward told her. She is not related to Ward. "I think it'll give people an opportunity. It isn't really an election if it's just one candidate --it's a shoe-in," she said.

Resident Leo Bordeleau said a new party is a good idea because the same people have been in office for years and don't take constituents' concerns seriously. "I've even seen borough officials laugh and giggle under their breath when borough constituents are talking," he said. "I think it's time we get some new, fresh people in there. I say, go for it."

At least 1 percent of the number of people who voted for the same office in the last borough election must sign the petitions for each candidacy. That means each petition only needs two signatures, Ward said, because the highest number of people that voted for an office in 2005 was 75.

To form the party, Ward must collect 25 signatures and file a statement of endorsement with the Secretary of the State. He already has eight signatures and expects to meet that goal by the end of this week.

Dan Tapper, spokesman for the Secretary of the State's office, said the Griswold Independent Party was the last third party in the town. It was most recently recognized in 2003 and did not have any affiliated members at that time.

Democratic Town Committee Chairman Richard Duda said he was confident in the success of his party. "The success is dependent on your candidate, it depends on your position on issues and your organization," he said. The Democrats will endorse candidates at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Town Hall.

Republican Town Committee Chairman Ed Wilds said the group will endorse candidates at 7 p.m. Thursday in Town Hall, including a candidate for Kata's position.

Kata said she was not ready to retire from the position she has held since 1999. She started working for the borough as treasurer in 1983. "Right now we have things to do," she said, referring to using new grant money for facade improvements on Main Street.

Reach Julie A. Varughese at 425-4217 or jvarughese@norwichbulletin.com