Ferrara Named as Republican Registrar of Voters in Westbrook
“About five or six (Democrats) were asked but they all said no,” Democratic Town Committee Vice Chair Tony Palermo and member of the Board of Selectmen said, adding the salary cut “is an insult.”
Connecticut General Statues 9-192 states “if a vacancy exists in the office of registrar of voters in consequence of a refusal or failure to accept the office or a failure of the registrar to appoint a deputy registrar, the town committee of the same political partyâÂ?¦shall fill such vacancy by the appointment of some suitable person, who shall belong to the same political party.”
Democratic Town Committee Chair Marilyn Ozols addressed a letter to First Selectman John Raffa about her opposition regarding the pay decrease.
“Unlike all other town positions, the unilateral pay reduction was taken prior to the anticipated wage study which you are undertaking,” Ozols wrote.
Ozols requested the Board of Selectmen add an item to the July 6 agenda for appropriation to restore funds back to the registrar of voters’ salary line at its previous level.
“Such a mid-term reduction is certainly unjust, may be illegal, and sets a precedent for Westbrook that is certain to discourage anyone from seeking public office,” Ozols stated in the letter.
Raffa said the item was placed on the July 6 agenda simply as a courtesy but said at press time there was no plan for discussion or a vote.
“I can’t betray the taxpayers of Westbrook,” Raffa said, by going against a budget passed by voters that called for a fifty percent reduction in individual registrar salaries from $13,900 to $7,000.
“Out of approximately 879 Democrats, they can’t find two people to take these positions?” Raffa said, adding their complaints are politically motivated.
Raffa said he received a call from a Democrat who was interested in the registrar position and referred him to Ozols.
“We already have a Republican registrar who is happy with the salary,” Raffa said.
It was not known on July 6 who would serve as the new Democratic registrar or who would serve as the deputy registrar of voters for Ferrara.
According to the Connecticut Office of Legislative Research, as soon as a registrar is elected, he is required to appoint a deputy who would take over as registrar if the registrar resigns, is removed, or dies while in office.
Time is running short as registered Democrats will have the opportunity to vote in an August 8 primary for the 109th U.S. Senate six-year seat between Ned Lamont and Joe Lieberman as well as the Connecticut governor four-year term between John DeStefano and Dan Malloy.
A spokesman for the Connecticut Secretary of State’s Office said at press time that the office is examining what would happen if a registrar is not chosen in time for the primaries.
The Board of Selectmen contends many towns in Connecticut pay their registrar’s close to fifty percent less than what Westbrook was paying their registrars.
Almost immediately after the budget passed, Democratic registrar of voters Patricia Moran and Republican registrar of voters Lorraine Cenkus resigned citing the pay cut.
Moran wrote in her resignation letter, “The Town of Westbrook has been held up at the State level as a model town of excellence,” while Ozols in her letter wrote, “I challenge you to find another town where all the registrar responsibilities are completed in accordance with the statues as they were in Westbrook.”
Democratic Deputy Registrar of Voters Myrn Keryc and Republican Deputy Barbara Kelsey also submitted letters of resignation only a few days later.
