nothin New Haven Independent | It’s Mark & Jack vs. Jamie & Joe

It’s Mark & Jack vs. Jamie & Joe

Mary Johnson Photo

L-R: Jack Ahern and Mark Rabinowitz

Mark Rabinowitz, a former elementary school principal, and Jack Ahern, a former town fire chief, were nominated to the top Democratic posts as first selectman and selectman last night.

Before a standing-room-only convention, Rabinowitz and Ahern, with decades of public service behind them, embarked on something new: running for public office. Those who nominated them praised their leadership abilities, their understanding of working with teams, their ability to produce budgets and their desire to work in public service.

Marcia Chambers Photo

DTC Executive Board

Democratic State Rep. Lonnie Reed was asked by Democratic Town Committee (DTC) chair Chris Sullivan to accept the role of chair for the purpose of the presiding over the convention. Steve Carlson served as secretary of the convention.

More than 115 people attended the convention and many signed up to work on a campaign to unseat the Cosgrove Republicans, incumbent First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, and incumbent selectman Joe Higgins, Jr. Cosgrove and Higgins have served one term.

Rabinowitz, 63, was principal of Mary R. Tisko Elementary school. (In 2013, Mary R. Tisko School ranked better than 95.6% of elementary schools in Connecticut). He told the Eagle after the convention that he is eager to begin the campaign. He had described his vision of leadership to the audience earlier: Just imagine a town where decision-making is public and transparent. Picture citizens with divergent points of view, sharing their thoughts and reaching win-win solutions.” Click here for an earlier story. 

Full Slate Announced

In announcing their candidates, the DTC nominated their full slate last night as the Republicans did a week ago. Joanne Cleary, the town’s tax collector, who was cross-endorsed by the Republicans this year and two years ago as well, was nominated by her party. The DTC also nominated Maggie Bruno, a long-time RTM member, for treasurer, Pam Knapp, a businesswoman, for town clerk, Judy Freed for the Board of Assessment and Appeals and three candidates for Board of Education: Mario Sabatini and Ellen Michaels, both incumbents, and Betsy Regan, a parent who is seeking the spot for the first time.

Brian Levy, the DTC’s new nominating committee chairman, put forth the names of Fran Walsh, Rhoda Loeb and Eunice Lasala to run for constable.

The Dems met in the community room of the firehouse, which was decorated with blue and white balloons for the occasion. It was the place Ahern’s referred to as his second home.

The Republicans held their caucus in the same room in the same firehouse last week, a firehouse they have often dubbed The Taj Mahal.”

Last night Ahern, no longer the fire chief and working for the town, took a jab at those who continue to criticize the new firehouse, one he worked for years to get built to replace a deteriorating building no longer in compliance with town and state codes.

Our detractors complain but correct me if I am wrong those same people happily gathered here for their convention last week,” he said of the Republican caucus to nominate the Cosgrove slate as well as their candidates for the Representative Town Meeting (RTM).

In fact just about every town committee, political group, employees, Boy Scout group, Girl Scout group, civic group has come to meet, discuss, learn, and decide. It is a building to be proud of, a building you tell your neighbors about, a building that home buyers are impressed with, a building that is part of the community and builds a community of partners,” Ahern said.

Ahern Likes To Joke

He got many laughs when he described how Sullivan called to ask me to consider running but failed to tell me about the interview process.’ They asked various questions about my life, my family, my accomplishments, but he did not prepare me for a couple of questions.”

One question, he said, tongue in cheek, was: why do they bury Republicans 100 feet below the surface? It took me a while to get the answer but it is, of course, because deep down they are good people!”

Then there was a second question, Ahern said: Why are there more Democrats than Republicans in Branford?”

This answer I had to look up, with thorough research and using Google, I found out the Republicans in Branford sleep in twin beds, often in separate rooms, while Democrats sleep in the same beds and have no TVs in their bedrooms!!”

Former First Selectman Unk DaRos attended the convention as did his former running mate and former Walsh Intermediate School Principal Fran Walsh. Ahern said Unk taught me a lot about politics and good people and he is good people.”

Stan Konesky, a veteran police official and academic, who previously led the nominating committee of the DTC, this night nominated Ahern, saying there was an overwhelming need to keep him in public service.” He described his many accomplishments during his 38 years of public service and his leadership of the fire department.

Ahern, who now works in the private sector, seemed to have found his political voice last night. There are more Democrats in Branford than Republicans,” he said. And we are going to get them to vote for us.” The audience roared. 

As it turned out, yesterday was Ahern’s 55th birthday. His family was with him as he accepted birthday wishes, a birthday cake from the Dems and a new phase of his life.

Asked by the Eagle afterwards why he decided to run, Ahern said: This is about service. To me it is about service. It is an opportunity for me to continue serving the town that I love, that I grew up in, that I brought my family up in. I just think that my experience with the town gives me the ability to offer things to people that will make Branford better, keep it as wonderful as it is.”

Rabinowitz Will Do What is Right”

A.J. Milici, a former RTM member and a longtime neighbor of Rabinowitz, nominated Rabinowitz to the town’s top post. The job, he said, requires a good leader. It needs someone with a vision.” The first selectman, he said, needs to be a good communicator. The first selectman needs to be a good listener and he must embrace diversity and have the ability to engage the entire Branford community.” Rabinowitz, he said,” has given a life of service to the town of Branford and he had the skill set to communicate with residents.” As first selectman, he said, he will do what is right,” he said, to a round of applause.

Marcia Chambers Photo

Shortly before 9 p.m., Rabinowitz walked to the microphone. He was beaming. The audience stood to applaud. How can I possibly lose with Jack as a partner?” he asked.

He told the audience of Tisko’s standing among the state’s schools – near the top and then he explained how he likes to work.

“…Imagine setting goals and standards for the various town departments and moving Branford forward. Picture us reaching out to the bio/medical industry and fostering more businesses locating in Branford. Imagine keeping taxes stable by more closely reviewing department budgets. Picture young families being attracted to Branford to raise their families because of high quality schools and great neighborhoods for kids. Imagine other towns talking about Branford’s phenomenal shoreline and rivers and envying its reputation. Picture a town that prides itself on preserving open spaces, appropriately maintains facilities and infrastructures, listens to its citizens and does long term planning for what it aspires to be. This is the
Branford that Jack and I envision and in the coming weeks we will explain how we will achieve these goals.”

The DTC unanimously voted their approval by voice vote.

Before the convention ended, Reed said Sullivan had requested a vote giving him authority to fill any vacancies that might occur before Election Day. The motion was approved.

Reed’s Overview

Marcia Chambers Photo

Before she left the podium, Reed (pictured) offered congratulations to the candidates in the room and to those on both sides of the aisle who run for public office. Then she turned to the Dems’ new slate.

I don’t think there are two better known and more respected gentlemen in this town than Mark and Jack. They have known most of the people in this town, one way or another on the best days of their lives, on the scariest days of their lives and on the worst days of their lives.

They are people who have seen it all and we have seen them handle a large spectrum of challenges and issues with humanity, intelligence, integrity and a love for this town and for its people. I think it behooves us to work so hard for a real class act ticket and to come together and tell their story. I was talking to Mark the other day about the track record both of these gentlemen have. This is not something you just come up with; bring in a political operative to say who they are. We know who they are and we need to tell their story again and again and why they are such a remarkable team to be running in this fall election.” 

The Democrats also adopted their slate for RTM where the Republicans now hold a 19 – 11 majority. They are seeking to change that.

Each of the seven district chairs announced the nominees from their districts, which had met earlier in the evening to vote. Some longtime RTM members were back on the ticket. They include Sullivan, who serves as the RTM minority leader, Adam Hansen, the current RTM clerk, Clare Torelli of the 1st District, Josh Brooks of the 2nd District and Doug Hanlon of the 3rd District.

In the 2nd District, incumbent Peter Henschel joins Brooks in seeking another term. Third District chair Catherine Jackson nominated Hanlon and Ali Abulugma, an incumbent, to serve another term.

In the 4th District, Maryanne Amore and Dorothy Docknovich, both former RTM members were nominated along with Hansen and newcomer Gaurishwor Sharma. 

In the 5th District, incumbent Marianne Hall returned to the slate along with former RTM member Yvette Larrieu. Mary Jo Riddle is again seeking a seat and Susan Solomon is making her first run for an RTM seat. 

In the 6th District, Sullivan was joined by Brian Levy, seeking his first seat and Marcia Wellman, who currently sits on the town’s Economic Development Commission.

In the 7th District, Linda Mollow, a nurse, is seeking her first term on the RTM. And incumbent Paula Gladdys is seeking another term in office. 

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