Dems endorse Bielik for another term

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Beacon Falls First Selectman Christopher Bielik, a Democrat, addresses the Democratic Town Committee Tuesday after receiving the endorsement to run for a second term. –LUKE MARSHALL
Beacon Falls First Selectman Christopher Bielik, a Democrat, addresses the Democratic Town Committee Tuesday after receiving the endorsement to run for a second term. –LUKE MARSHALL

BEACON FALLS — First Selectman Christopher Bielik will lead the Democratic ticket in the November election.

The Democratic Town Committee nominated its slate of candidates Tuesday, with Bielik taking the top spot.

“We’ve got an amazing slate of people that are going to be running for office this year,” said Bielik, who is in his first term as first selectman.

The Republican Town Committee didn’t endorse a candidate last week to challenge Bielik. The Republican Town Committee endorsed just three candidates.

“We have a rare opportunity this year because, unless things change in the next couple of weeks, this is the way this election is going to go. That doesn’t happen hardly at all,” Bielik said.

Bielik urged the candidates to campaign just as hard as two years ago.

“What we need to do is make sure, when we approach this election coming up in November, we give this the exact same level of intensity and the exact same level of effort that we gave two years when we were pounding our feet on the streets,” Bielik said. “That got us here and we can’t forget it. Because when we start being complacent, when we start resting on our laurels, that is when things fall apart and we can’t allow that to happen.”

Bielik said the town has made strides over the past two years. That momentum will continue, he said, thanks to all the people running for office.

“We’re in great shape. Our fiscal house is going to be so in order that we’re going to have an amazing, tremendous opportunity for charting a path not just for the next two years but for a long time to come in this town. This place is going to be a place people are going to want to come to. And the assembled group in this room tonight is going to be the ones to make that happen,” Bielik said.

Incumbent Selectman Peter Betkoski was backed for another term.

“I’m so excited to get nominated for a second time. These last two years were so exciting,” Betkoski said. “I’m so proud to be running on this ticket. This is a solid ticket. I can’t be any prouder of that.”

The committee endorsed longtime incumbent Priscilla Cretella and David Rybinski for the Region 16 Board of Education, which oversees schools in Beacon Falls and Prospect. Cretella is currently vice chair of the board. Rybinski was elected to the board earlier this year to fill a vacancy created when Wendy Oliveira resigned.

The committee also nominated Annette Bosley Boyce for the school board, but she did not receive enough votes to be endorsed for one of the two spots.

The board endorsed incumbent Tax Collector Mary Anne Holloway for re-election. Deputy Treasurer Wendy Rodorigo received the endorsement to run for treasurer.

The committee endorsed Jim Huk for the Board of Finance. Barbara Betkoski and Darlene Ragozzine were backed for the Beacon Falls Public Library Board of Directors.
Gary Komarowsky was endorsed for the Board of Assessment Appeals. Robert Doiron and Tony Smith were endorsed for the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Bielik said he was proud of the ticket heading into November.

“I’m proud to be at the top, leading this team, but you all are the ones who do so much more of the work than I can ever begin to describe. I’ve got to give you the credit for that. Let’s all work together,” Bielik said.