Press Releases
Joint Statement from Cheshire Democratic Town Committee Chair Courtney Cullinan and Vice Chair Matt Hall on Council Proposal to Merge Commissions
December 14, 2021 -- “The CDTC is dismayed to learn of the Town Council majority's initiative to merge the Public Safety Commission with the Prison Advisory Council, which appears on the Council's agenda for Tuesday, December 14. This proposal speaks to a larger issue of disengagement that afflicts many of our boards and commissions. Unfilled vacancies, inconsistent attendance, inability to attain a voting quorum and the uncertainty of the importance of their work plague many of our volunteer commissions. As a result, many of our boards and commissions are dormant, meeting much less frequently than contemplated by our town government's charter.
“Rather than eliminating boards and volunteers, we believe in a twofold approach: First, the Council should expand opportunities to make it easier for concerned and informed Cheshire residents to serve as volunteers, not take away those opportunities. Our town charter vests in the majority party the authority to fill a preponderance of seats on the various boards and commissions, and further vests in the Council Chair the ability to fill vacancies unilaterally after 60 days. However, the charter does not mandate that the appointees be members of the same majority party. There are a vast number of unaffiliated and registered democrats who are willing to serve, not for partisan purposes, but for the purpose of putting Cheshire first. Candidates campaign on ‘putting Cheshire first’; as elected officials, those same candidates should fulfill that pledge and appoint willing and able members, no matter their party affiliation.
“Second, the boards and commissions have to feel their work has value. Whether through stronger liaison relationships with the Council members, or through more specific task-oriented efforts requested by the Council, the boards and commissions must feel that their work has import or value. Otherwise, no one should be surprised that they are not finding committed -- or any -- volunteers to fill vacancies or attend meetings regularly.
“We hope the Council majority very carefully reconsiders the idea to merge these two boards. Creating more engagement, rather than reducing opportunities, is an idea that should enjoy broad bipartisan support. Our Council members, Peter Talbot and Jim Jinks, stand ready to add their leadership toward this goal.”
December 14, 2021 -- “The CDTC is dismayed to learn of the Town Council majority's initiative to merge the Public Safety Commission with the Prison Advisory Council, which appears on the Council's agenda for Tuesday, December 14. This proposal speaks to a larger issue of disengagement that afflicts many of our boards and commissions. Unfilled vacancies, inconsistent attendance, inability to attain a voting quorum and the uncertainty of the importance of their work plague many of our volunteer commissions. As a result, many of our boards and commissions are dormant, meeting much less frequently than contemplated by our town government's charter.
“Rather than eliminating boards and volunteers, we believe in a twofold approach: First, the Council should expand opportunities to make it easier for concerned and informed Cheshire residents to serve as volunteers, not take away those opportunities. Our town charter vests in the majority party the authority to fill a preponderance of seats on the various boards and commissions, and further vests in the Council Chair the ability to fill vacancies unilaterally after 60 days. However, the charter does not mandate that the appointees be members of the same majority party. There are a vast number of unaffiliated and registered democrats who are willing to serve, not for partisan purposes, but for the purpose of putting Cheshire first. Candidates campaign on ‘putting Cheshire first’; as elected officials, those same candidates should fulfill that pledge and appoint willing and able members, no matter their party affiliation.
“Second, the boards and commissions have to feel their work has value. Whether through stronger liaison relationships with the Council members, or through more specific task-oriented efforts requested by the Council, the boards and commissions must feel that their work has import or value. Otherwise, no one should be surprised that they are not finding committed -- or any -- volunteers to fill vacancies or attend meetings regularly.
“We hope the Council majority very carefully reconsiders the idea to merge these two boards. Creating more engagement, rather than reducing opportunities, is an idea that should enjoy broad bipartisan support. Our Council members, Peter Talbot and Jim Jinks, stand ready to add their leadership toward this goal.”
Cheshire Democrats Decline Recounts in 2021 Election
November 8, 2021 -- Today, the Cheshire Democratic Town Committee announced that two candidates would not seek recounts for municipal races that met a mandatory recount threshold.
At-Large Democratic Council candidate Fiona Pearson and Planning and Zoning Commission candidate Casey Downes each are within the recount threshold. By Town Charter, both have a right to a recount, but have agreed not to challenge the results in the interest of Cheshire taxpayers and to demonstrate faith in the electoral process.
“As Democrats, we believe deeply in free and fair elections. While we have a right to force a recount, we have declined to save money for Cheshire taxpayers. Win or lose, we believe in the integrity of our democracy. We trust if the situation were reversed, our Republican friends would choose to do the same,” Pearson and Downes said.
According to unofficial Secretary of the State vote totals, in the 2021 municipal election, Pearson garnered 3,651 votes, 25 less than Republican incumbent Sandra Pavano. Additionally, At-Large Democratic candidates Jami Ferguson and Chuck Neth were both within 45 votes of Pavano, who had the lowest winning vote total for at-large candidates. Downes received 4,022 votes, 28 fewer than Republican Tom Selmont, who had the lowest winning vote total for Planning and Zoning.
“I am incredibly proud of our candidates and while we came up short in some races, we have momentum on our side. I firmly believe residents are ready for fresh perspectives, sustainable solutions, and leadership that listens,” said Courtney Cullinan, chair of the Cheshire Democratic Town Committee. “We will make sure Cheshire residents are not ignored by the Republican majority over these next two years.”
November 8, 2021 -- Today, the Cheshire Democratic Town Committee announced that two candidates would not seek recounts for municipal races that met a mandatory recount threshold.
At-Large Democratic Council candidate Fiona Pearson and Planning and Zoning Commission candidate Casey Downes each are within the recount threshold. By Town Charter, both have a right to a recount, but have agreed not to challenge the results in the interest of Cheshire taxpayers and to demonstrate faith in the electoral process.
“As Democrats, we believe deeply in free and fair elections. While we have a right to force a recount, we have declined to save money for Cheshire taxpayers. Win or lose, we believe in the integrity of our democracy. We trust if the situation were reversed, our Republican friends would choose to do the same,” Pearson and Downes said.
According to unofficial Secretary of the State vote totals, in the 2021 municipal election, Pearson garnered 3,651 votes, 25 less than Republican incumbent Sandra Pavano. Additionally, At-Large Democratic candidates Jami Ferguson and Chuck Neth were both within 45 votes of Pavano, who had the lowest winning vote total for at-large candidates. Downes received 4,022 votes, 28 fewer than Republican Tom Selmont, who had the lowest winning vote total for Planning and Zoning.
“I am incredibly proud of our candidates and while we came up short in some races, we have momentum on our side. I firmly believe residents are ready for fresh perspectives, sustainable solutions, and leadership that listens,” said Courtney Cullinan, chair of the Cheshire Democratic Town Committee. “We will make sure Cheshire residents are not ignored by the Republican majority over these next two years.”