nothin New Haven Independent | Cosgrove Wins Republican Nomination

Cosgrove Wins Republican Nomination

Marcia Chambers Photo

It came as no surprise that First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove won the enthusiastic support of the Republican caucus last night as he told his supporters he wants to continue to do the kind of work that has turned Branford around.”

In seeking his second two-year term in office in the November election, Cosgrove, 42, selected incumbent Republican selectman Joe Higgins, a retired New York City fire official who headed the dispatch unit during 9 – 11, to run with him again.

In less than two years, we have turned Branford around, and are busy growing our tax base responsibly so that we can build a better Branford. After listening to promises for eight years we have a new senior center underway and I am working closely with our schools superintendent and Board of Ed officials to develop a fiscally responsible plan for the Walsh Middle School,” Cosgrove said. Click here to read about the Walsh history.

File Photo

About 50 Republicans filled the community room at Branford fire headquarters where the 40-minute caucus began at 7 p.m. and concluded forty minutes later. Any registered Republican was able to vote. After Cosgrove accepted the nomination, an enthusiastic audience rose to applaud him. 

The Democratic Town Committee (DTC) holds its convention next Tuesday, July 28, at Fire Headquarters, 45 North Main St., at 8 p.m. where Mark Rabinowitz, former principal of the Mary R.Tisko Elementary school is expected to be formally nominated for the town’s top post and former fire chief Jack Ahern is expected to be nominated for selectman.

In accepting the nomination, Cosgrove adopted the general philosophy of his town counsel, Bill Aniskovich, a former state senator, who speaks of people working together for the betterment of Branford while putting party politics aside. Cosgrove said he was proud that we put aside our partisan politics and appointed Democrats, Republicans and Independents to our boards and commissions.”

Cosgrove Raises Costco

Cosgrove spoke about Costco, which was a major part of his election platform when he ran for first selectman two years ago.

I am happy that the Planning and Zoning Commission has approved the Costco development for exit 56 and I hope that the remaining approvals will come after a thorough and fair process,” he said slowly, emphasizing the words thorough and fair. At this point, the audience applauded long and hard.

Cosgrove said he was looking forward to running this campaign with incumbent Higgins. We have a great team and I am excited to take our message to the voters. But for now let me just say this… two years ago I stood here and promised we would put aside politics and put the people of Branford first. I think we did that. I know we did that,” he said to another round of applause. And I would be honored to serve the people of Branford for two more years.” 

The speech omitted some projects that have not been turned around yet: The school project has been discussed for many years and its latest configuration was announced about two weeks ago. The town’s public works operation remains in need of a permanent facility. However, there was a hint last night that there would be news” about the public works building. A new senior center remains in its very early stages.

Cosgrove also has yet to reappoint two longtime members of the Inland Wetlands Commission, the commission that is next in line to hear the Costco application for development at Exit 56. Click here to read the story. The three commissioners whose terms expired May 31 are Dr. Richard Orson; Dr. Wesley Vietzke; and Leo Stanlake, who is an alternate. The three have asked to be reappointed. The IWC is comprised of seven members and three alternates. It is expected to get the Costco application in August or September.

Cianci Presents Republican Overview

Paul Cianci, whom Cosgrove appointed to the building commission, nominated Cosgrove. Two years ago Aniskovich, who is now the town attorney, had that role.While Aniskovich attended this caucus, he did not speak. Instead Cianci, an engineer who sought to unseat Democratic State Rep. Lonnie Reed in 2014, delivered an overview of Cosgrove’s first two years at the town’s top official.

On election night, 2013, the Branford voters overwhelmingly said yes to our message for commonsense government and responsible growth. Over the last two years I think it is safe to say we have delivered. And then some. We promised to end the Tabor controversy and we did. We promised to end the Cooke litigation and open the door to Costco development at exit 56 and we did. We promised to create a public building commission so that decisions about building projects would be made in the light of day and we did. We promised to stop talking about a new home for Branford’s senior citizens center and get new one and we did. We promised to find a solution to the challenges of the town’s middle school and we did. Our message tonight is a simple one: promises made, promises kept.”

Cianci’s last line elicited a sustained round of applause.

He also mentioned, almost in passing, that there will soon be news about a new public works facility in town. Efforts by Unk Da Ros, the former first selectman and a building committee to place a new facility on the town-owned Tabor site, ran into public opposition. Other sites were considered but did not materialize before DaRos retired from office in 2013. The town’s public works facility, deemed unsafe by some, is now in a rental facility. Click here to read the story.

Asked afterwards about the long dormant public works plan, Cosgrove told the Eagle it has not been forgotten.” He said you have to look at the bigger picture,” he said, referring to the other projects. He said he had enjoyed serving the town. 

Cosgrove, who ran his grandfather Dan Cosgrove’s construction business before becoming first selectman in 2013, thanked his family for all their support. His father was on hand along with his aunt, Susan Cosgrove Barnes.

Ray Ingraham, chair of the Republican Town Committee and majority leader of the RTM, welcomed the caucus and then turned the meeting over to Joe Coguillo who served as chair for the caucus. Nancy Gaylord served as secretary for the caucus.

In announcing their candidates, the Republican caucus cross-endorsed Joanne Cleary, current tax collector, who is running on the Democratic ticket. They did so as well two years ago. Cosgrove said back then that he did not believed the position of tax collection should be a political position. Cleary,” he said, does an excellent job. I believe if somebody is doing a great job and she is doing a great job, let’s endorse her.”

The Republicans also nominated incumbents Michael T. Nardella for town treasurer, Lisa Arpin for town clerk, Jason Driscoll for the Board of Assessment Appeals, and three candidates for the Board of Education: Joanne Borrus, a current BOE member for a six-year term, and Maria Ehrhardt and Shannen Sharkey, for two-year terms. Four constables were nominated as well: Robert Zettergren, Kyle Nelson, Dennis Nardella, and Nancy Gaylord.

Republicans also adopted their slate for the Republican Town Meeting (RTM) where they now hold a 19 – 11 majority. 

RTM Moderator Dennis Flanagan, the longest serving member of the legislative body, told the audience that Cosgrove had been very strong. We will be there for Jamie,” he declared, echoing the sentiments of the other RTM candidates who spoke.

Besides Flanagan, other longtime RTM members Frank Twohill, Jim Walker and Peter Black were all back on the ticket. They were joined by incumbents Jennifer L. Zambrano, Vincent Baglio and George David Wells of the 1st District, a newcomer and an attorney Clifford Merin of Stony Creek’s 2nd District, Sean Kelly of the 3rd District in Short Beach, incumbents Robert Imperato and James Stepanek of the 4th Distict and newcomers Nick DeLucia and Julie Lindberg. DeLucia and Lindberg are running for the seats previously held by Cynthia Nargi and Driscoll, who is now running for the Board of Assessment Appeals.

In the 5th District, Ingraham, Flanagan, Donald Conklin and John Leonard are all running again, and in the 6th District, incumbents Marc Riccio, Ed Prete and Anthony Alfone will also be on the 2015 ballot. In the 7th District Robin Sandler and Patricia Anderson, a recent RTM appointee, will be on the ticket as well.

In all, the Republican slate has five lawyers on its ticket: Attorneys Twohill, Black, Merin, Leonard and Sandler.
###

Sign up for our morning newsletter

Don't want to miss a single Independent article? Sign up for our daily email newsletter! Click here for more info.


Post a Comment

Commenting has closed for this entry

Comments

There were no comments