January 2026

Written by Juliana Simone

By slim margins, the democrat party pulled out a win for their candidates, who had no experience in prior board or elected positions. Replacing long-serving veterans who have held productive seats as members or as Chairmen for over ten to twenty five years on major boards here in our small town, residents need to wonder why partisan votes were more important than efficient government. Anyone who follows politics knows the answer to this… for democrats, it’s the party over the people. These newly appointed people, including the First Selectwoman, won’t have any understanding of these important boards, having never served in any capacity before.

The reason there are alternate seats on town boards is so they can learn the language, issues, agendas, policies, etc. before taking a full seat when someone retires. 

The entire democrat ticket just elected did not have one candidate who was even an alternate. 

Under First Selectman Nick Lukiwsky (R), his first and only term these past two years, brought down the mill rate by almost 5% for property owners. He also did not raise taxes unlike his democrat predecessor, Don Stein, who raised taxes every year he held office. Mr. Stein found a way to return to the Town Hall by putting himself on the ballot to challenge the current sitting treasurer, a Republican, who did a fine job. Looking at their campaign mailers, for the first time I’ve ever seen and many before me here in town, the treasurer candidate was promoted as if he himself was running for First Selectman. 

There were three races that made a recount eligible by the SOTS office. Two candidates declined. The Democrat who opposed incumbent Mimi Duran for the Board of Education on Regional 7, and current First Selectman, Nick Lukiwsky, who would have challenged his running mate, Mark Mahoney. Robert Brainard III, Chairman of the Board of Assessment Appeals, who lost by only 11 votes, did accept the recount but only gained two votes in the end. 

On the BOE elementary school, we kept a newly appointed seat and on the BOE Regional 7, we kept our incumbent in her seat. A failure I personally had nothing to do with, was our RTC campaign mailer not even including our veteran board members as candidates. As Chairman, I was not sent the final draft before printing. Obviously, I would have asked where our other board members were and would have made sure they were included. Bringing in new people to a committee is a good thing in that groups need to grow, but to give these new members important decisions over officers who have been in the trenches a long time, is not a good idea.

With this behind us, we look forward to the new challenge in 2027, as our town residents see the difference between experienced board members and inexperienced electees by party affiliation only.