Wallingford Democratic Town Committee Meeting

Wallingford Democratic Town Committee Meeting

Wednesday, November 20,  2013

Time: 7:00PM  350 Center Street Wallingford, CT

Meeting Agenda

1)    Pledge of Allegiance
2)    Roll call
3)    Minutes
4)    Treasurers Report
5)    Chairman’s comments
       Discussion of election results
       The terms of three constables and a planning and zoning commissioner will expire
       on 1/7/14 and 1/8/14 respectively.
6)    Committee Reports
7)    Adjournment

Those interested in the above seats should contact Chairman Avallone via letter or e-mail and interviews will be held prior to the December 18th DTC meeting.

Those interviewed will have an opportunity to address the DTC at the Dec. 18th meeting and elections, if necessary, will be held at the Jan.15, 2014 DTC meeting.

The term of a constable is two years and the planning and zoning term is five years. William Nolan, Joe DaCunto and Tim Wall are the current constables while Jim Fitzsimmons is the P&Z commissioner.

Democrat gets jump on Town Council race

As published in the Record Journal Thursday May 30, 2013

By Andrew Ragali
Record-Journal staff aragali@record-journal.com (203) 317-2224
Twitter:@AndyRagz

WALLINGFORD — More than a year ago, a town councilor asked local resident Dana Camp to attend a meeting so he could publicly state his views on a certain topic. When Camp attended the meeting, his first, in January 2012, he was disappointed by how quickly an issue he felt strongly about was dismissed.

Since then, Camp has become a regular at Town Council meetings, keeping an eye on issues.

 

“I like to stay informed,” Camp said. “I want to know what’s happening in the community.”

 

But Camp said he hopes to be more than an informed citizen in the near future. Camp, a Democrat running for Town Council, hopes to become an informed decision-maker.

 

“I decided to dive into it,” Camp said about his run for Town Council. “I see there’s room for more improvement.”

 

At 28, Camp is younger than any current Town Council member. A lifelong Wallingford resident, he graduated from Southern Connecticut State University eight years ago with the goal of becoming a math teacher. A unique opportunity, hesaid, led him, instead, to start his own business. For the past seven years, Camp has owned and operated Business Integrated Technology Solutions. The business, at 350 Center St., specializes in consulting for the information technology industry.

 

“I’m definitely an advocate for technology,” Camp said. “But I understand that’s not the only thing that will make a difference in this town.”

 

To improve Wallingford, Camp said he believes in creating a culture of accountability,“from the mayor and department heads on down.”

 

“People want to call it micromanaging,” Camp said. “I think it’s managing properly.”

 

Town Clerk Barbara Thompson said Camp filed paperwork with her office on April 10, officially launching his candidacy. Thus far, he is the only candidate to file with the town. Candidates must have all paperwork into the Town Clerk’s office by July 10, in time for Republican and Democratic electoral caucuses to be held on the evening of July 17.

 

By filing early, Thompson said,Camp is not waiting for Democrats to endorse him at their caucus.

 

“He’s looking to fundraise ahead of time,” she said.

 

“I decided it was important to get an early start,” Camp said. “If we wait till the caucus, we only have a few months left to get mobilized.”

 

Camp said he also understands he’s “the new kid on the block,” and needs to start his campaigning early if he wants to be successful. To begin garnering name recognition, Camp said he plans to knock on a lot of doors. He also has started handing out small water bottles at public events. He said he handed out about 100 water bottles with a label that contains his website, www.danacamp.com, during the Memorial Day parade last weekend.

 

Thompson said Camp filed his candidacy with an exemption, meaning he can raise a maximum of $1,000. Thompson said a candidate who files with an exemption can re-file after reaching the fundraising limit in order to collect more money. According to Camp’s last filing in April, he hasn’t yet raised any money for his campaign. He doesn’t have to file his fundraising efforts again until July 10.

 

Camp said he hasn’t yet held any fundraising events, but hopes to.

 

“What that takes is getting outthere and introducing myself to people,” he said.

 

If Camp is not endorsed by the Democratic Party on July 17, he can petition onto its ballot or run as an unaffiliated candidate, Thompson said.

 

“He’s the kind of people that we really need to be involved in the political system and government,” said Democratic Town Chairman Vincent Avallone, citing Camp’s youth, intelligence and passion.

 

“And at this age, to want to be involved to make your town better; I really like Dana a lot.”

 

Avallone said Camp has a lot of potential as a future politician in Wallingford, but said currently he is not well known around town.

 

Republican Town Chairman Bob Prentice said he will learn more about Camp when campaigning begins.

 

"I don’t know anything about him at this point,” Prentice said.

 

Camp shows commitment to the town by showing up at almost every Town Council meeting, Avallone said. He also stays up to date on Board of Education activity.

 

“It really is encouraging,” Avallone said.

Wallingford Dems question GOP tactic

As published in the Record Journal, Thursday January 24, 2013

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225
Twitter:@RussellBlairRJ

WALLINGFORD - The Democratic town chairman Wednesday called Republican town councilors “disrespectful” for halting debate during this week’s Town Council meeting without letting a Democratic colleague finish his thoughts.

Republicans invoked an infrequently used rule known as “calling the question.” If two thirds of the council supports the motion — the Republicans hold a 6-3 majority — debate is immediately ended and the pending matter is put to a vote.

Republican Thomas Laffin made the motion Tuesday night after about 45 minutes of debate on a proposal by Democrat Jason Zandri to create a committee to investigate powering town-owned buildings for use as shelters during storms with widespread power outages. Zandri shared his thoughts but deferred to other councilors and expected to speak on the subject a second time. However, Laffin moved to call the question before Zandri’s turn came around again.

“What I find reprehensible and disrespectful is not to have allowed Jason to continue asking questions,” said Democratic Town Chairman Vincent Avallone. “It was clear he was going to ask further questions.”

Laffin said Wednesday that he made the motion after giving other councilors a chance to speak because the debate had strayed from Zandri’s motion to a general discussion about emergency preparedness.

“Nobody was talking about the actual motion,” Laffin said. “They were talking in circles.”

Zandri said he was unhappy he hadn’t received a chance to continue his comments, but he was more upset that the public didn’t have a chance to speak on the issue.

“The Republicans don’t care about what the people have to say,” he said. “Just because it’s proper procedurally doesn’t make it the right thing to do.”

Republican John Le-Tourneau said Laffin’s motion hadn’t suppressed debate. He said the town-owned Electric Division is well known for keeping power running during storms and Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. said that if the town were to experience a total blackout, crews would be able to restore power to a school for use as a shelter quickly.

“The chances of something catastrophic like that happening in Wallingford is so remote,” LeTourneau said. “We could have sat there all night and talked about hypothetical (situations). It was time to end it.”

But Democratic Councilor John Sullivan said debate was cut short.

“Debate is a part of government we cannot suppress,” he said. “It (calling the question) should be a last resort. It seems the right side of the aisle is using it as a tool to squash debate.”

Avallone, who has been observing the council for about 20 years, said he’s seen more instances of calling the question this term than he has in the past two decades.

“It’s a political move to cut off discussion on issues that are important to the public,” he said.

Laffin said that if Zandri wanted information about emergency preparedness he could have requested it from Dickinson or department heads over the telephone or by setting up a meeting. Zandri said he had talked with Emergency Management Director Ernest Frattini before the meeting and placed the item on the agenda because he believes the town’s emergency preparedness plans are lacking.

Laffin also accused the Democrat, who is planning to run for mayor this fall, of using his seat on the Town Council and the forum the meeting provided for political posturing.

Zandri said he’s a councilor first and a mayoral candidate second.

“I have a job to do on behalf of the people who voted me in and I’m going to continue to do it,” he said.

Wallingford Democratic Town Committee Meeting

Wallingford Democratic Town Committee Meeting

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Time: 7:00pm 
350 Center Street
Wallingford, CT

Meeting Agenda Roll Call Acceptance of Meeting Minutes Treasurer's Report Chairman's Report Local Government Reports Announcements / Open Discussion          Jason Zandri will address the DTC Members Adjournment

Wallingford DTC Projected numbers for 85th District (UNOFFICIAL)

WINNER – MARY MUSHINSKY

WALLINGFORD LEGAL NOTICE - CAUCUS TO ENDORSE CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION TO THE DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE OF WALLINGFORD

TO: ENROLLED MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF THE TOWN OF WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT 

Pursuant to the rules of the Democratic Party and the state election laws, you are hereby notified that District [caucuses] will be held on January 11th at 7 P.M. at Dag Hammarskjold Middle School, 106 Pond Hill Road, Wallingford [Voting Districts 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 9] and at James Moran Middle School, 14 Hope Hill Road, Wallingford [Voting Districts 5 – 6 – 7 – 8] to endorse candidates for election to the Democratic Town Committee and to transact such other business as may be proper to come before said caucus.

“Any resident of [this] Voting District whose name appears on the last completed Democratic enrollment list may have his or her name placed on the ballot at [this] caucus by filing with the Democratic Registrar of Voters not less than five [5] days prior to the caucus a signed statement that he or she desires to have his or her name to appear on the ballot. Any such resident may also have his or her name placed in nomination from the floor at the caucus itself.”

SECTION 3 CALCULATION OF TOWN COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP; EACH VOTING DISTRICT SHALL HAVE ONE [1] MEMBER FOR EVERY SEVENTYFIVE [75] REGISTERED DEMOCRATS RESIDING IN THE DISTRICT AS OF THE LAST PRINTED LIST IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER PRIOR TO THE TOWN COMMITTEE CAUCUS FOR THE ELECTION OF NEW TOWN COMMITTEE. IF THE BALANCE OF REGISTERED IN THE DISTRICT IS THIRTY- EIGHT [38] OR MORE, SAID DISTRICT WILL BE ENTITLED TO AN ADDITIONAL MEMBER.

DATED AT WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT, THE 28TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2011.

Democratic Town Committee of Wallingford By Vincent A. Avallone, Chairperson 1 Ashford Court, Wallingford, CT 06492

Vincent Avallone defends record as Democratic town chairman

As published in the Record Journal, Sunday December 18, 2011

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — Since Vincent Avallone was named chairman of the Democratic Town Committee in 2008, municipal elections have not gone in the party’s favor, but Avallone says he’s the man to lead the town’s Democrats for the next two years and is optimistic about the future.

“I think it’s going in the right direction,” he said. “The core is as together as I’ve ever seen it on the town committee.”

Avallone will seek re-election as chairman in March and, so far, nobody has come forward to challenge the local attorney. He had thoughts about stepping down from his time consuming role, noting that his daughter, Joy, recently joined his law practice, but Avallone still he feels there is work that needs to be done.

The Democrats had a 5-4 majority on the Town Council after municipal elections in 2007, but Republicans regained a 6-3 advantage in 2009 and held the same majority in November’s election.

Republican William W. Dickinson Jr. has held the mayor’s seat since 1983.

While people can judge him on the outcomes of the last two municipal elections, Avallone said that there’s more to the role of chairman than simply being a campaign manager. Avallone said that more work needs to be done to get the Democrats out to vote.

In the most recent election, 3,314 Democrats came out to vote, 45.8 percent of the 7,232 registered in town. By comparison, 49.4 percent of registered Republicans came to the polls. Unaffiliated voters, the largest segment of the electorate in town at 13,025, came out at a rate of 32.8 percent. Vincent Testa Jr., the Democratic candidate for mayor, garnered 3,551 votes to Dickinson’s 6,210. Avallone admits that there was a divide in the party in the 1980s and 1990s — following a 1983 primary, in which Democratic then-Mayor Rocco J. Vumbaco lost to Pat DeBaise, who lost handily in the general election to Dickinson — but said that no such rift exists today.

File photo – courtesy of the Record Journal.

“Since those days, the makeup of the town committee has changed,” he said. “We’ve turned it around. There’s been about 60 or 65 percent turnover.”

Avallone acknowledges that it’s tough to campaign against the longtime mayor, but pointed to the election in 1989, when Democrat Peter Gouveia lost by only 31 votes, as an example of how close the party has come. With the council and school board, Avallone said that having Dickinson at the top of the ticket is a boost.

“The biggest difference in the parties is Bill Dickinson,” he said. “There’s a coat-tail effect running on a ticket with Bill Dickinson.”

But Stephen Alexander, a Democrat who moved to town a couple years ago and is not a member of the Democratic Town Committee, said he thinks the local party needs to do better.

In a letter to the editor published in the Record-Journal on Dec. 11, Alexander contended that “Democrats in Wallingford deserve a new leader who can win elections.” “There are a lot of new people in town,” Alexander said in an interview. “We’re a lot more Hispanic today than we were before. We have more renters in town. These are people that traditionally vote Democratic.” John Sullivan, a Democrat councilor, defended Avallone and said that it’s up to candidates to win elections, and that Avallone, and the town committee, are just there to offer support.

“You can’t judge a person by their record,” he said. “The candidates need to do it; it shouldn’t fall on the chairman’s shoulders.” Sullivan said he knows of nobody on the town committee who has come forward to challenge Avallone, and lauded the chairman’s fundraising efforts.

Avallone says the party is making an effort to reach out to new members while strengthening its base. He used the example of Jason Zandri, who ran as an independent for Town Council in 2007, but was convinced to join the Democrats. He also mentioned Christian DeCarlo, who planned an independent run for mayor this year before folding his campaign and joining the Democrats.

Samuel Carmody, the Democratic registrar of voters and a district leader on the Democratic Town Committee, said he thinks Avallone has helped bring the party together in his years as chairman.

Carmody, 25, has been involved with the party for nine years.

“We are unified, the party internally has become more unified,” he said. “There’s more momentum building within the party. I have hopes for the future as well.”

Carmody said that Avallone has also made efforts to reach out to young Democrats, and used the example of David Leonardo, a 24-year-old who ran in November for Board of Education and is expected to take a seat on the town committee.

The Democrats will caucus next month to elect new committee members. Avallone said he has a good group together that he hopes to build on, and wants the party to be in good position for the day when the mayor’s seat becomes vacant.

“You can’t give up, you have to keep trying,” he said. “You keep pushing. It’s difficult to beat the incumbent.”