Internet Voter Registration Form Link

Table of Contents for Local Election in Weston Page
  1. ALL OVER FOR 2007 - vote totals and Oath of Office ceremony pix here.
  2. THE DEBATES
  3. Petitioning Candidate on the ballot - link here;
  4. CAUCUS RESULTS:  Republican Ticket '07;  
  5. CAUCUS RESULTS - Democrat Ticket '07.
  6. Who also has the basic information in Weston about voting? Link on the Town website to Town Clerk;
  7. The ultimate authority is (shown above):  http://www.sots.ct.gov
  8. LAST LOCAL ELECTION:  in reverse chronological order, Election 2005...
NOTE:  EVERYTHING ON THIS PAGE IS UNOFFICIAL INFORMATION (because it is on the Internet):

Campaign tent causes a flap
Weston FORUM
by PATRICIA GAY
Nov 3, 2007

Although the candidates debate on Saturday went relatively smoothly, there was one small controversy in the parking lot beforehand.

Prior to the start of the debate at 10:30 a.m., some friends of Gayle Weinstein, the Democratic candidate for first selectman, set up a small open-sided tent with political signs on it, around the back of a car in a parking space at Norfield Church, where the debate took place.

The friends were giving out free coffee and doughnuts.

When members of the church saw the tent, they asked the church’s pastor, Bernard Wilson, if permission had been granted for it. “Rev. Wilson said permission had not been granted for the tent, so Fred Schneider and I asked them to remove it,” said Phyllis Gary.

She said initially the friends seemed reluctant to remove the tent, but eventually did comply and took it down.

Denise Zako, the church’s secretary, said the church did not sanction the tent, and took immediate action to have it removed once it came to the church’s attention.

Sandra Swan, who attended the debate, said she was concerned the tent might give the appearance that the church was engaging in political activity, when in fact it wasn’t.

“Churches have to be careful because partisan activities on church grounds can jeopardize a church’s nonprofit status with the IRS,” Ms. Swan said. She said that would be especially unfortunate because the League of Women Voters ran a nonpartisan debate at the church, an activity that is allowed by the IRS.

Ms. Weinstein said the people who set up the tent did not mean to do anything wrong. “The idea behind it wasn’t political. The tent was set up as a tailgate party offering coffee and doughnuts. It was not meant to be political and the tent was taken down when requested,” Ms. Weinstein said.

Carl Bernstein, chairman of the Weston Democratic Town Committee, said the matter did not call for a comment or response. 


Thank you, Town Clerk!
WESTON ELECTION CANDIDATES, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2007. . . T H E    A B S E N T E E    B A L L O T
FROM THE REGISTRARS OF VOTERS- LWVCT "STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN":
TIPS ON VOTING THE NEW OFFICIAL WAY!  
NOTE:
Westonites used this machine a few elections ago on a trial basis, and it went very well - one thing that answers a question some have had is:  "What if there is an 'over-vote'?"
PAGE 30 says...
□ If the scanner detects an overvote in one or more race, it rejects the ballot immediately. The poll worker suggests that the voter take the ballot and check it for an overvote. To correct an overvote, the voter must request a replacement ballot; the original ballot is voided. If the voter opts not to correct the ballot, he/she can place the ballot in the auxiliary bin. The ballot will be manually counted at the end of the day; however no vote will be counted in the race for which there was an overvote.
□ Undervotes are not considered to be errors, and are not detected by the scanner. [Compare this to the lever machines that also allowed a vote to leave certain races blank.]
□ There may be times when a ballot is jammed in the scanner. If this should happen, the poll worker will remove the jammed ballot. The scanner tells the poll worker whether or not the ballot has been counted. If it has not been read, the voter may re-insert the ballot to be re-scanned. If it has been read, the ballot will be deposited in ballot box through a slot behind the scanner.
State officials nix lever voting machines 
New London DAY
Posted on Jul 30,2007 2:59 PM EDT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Lever voting machines that voters have used since the 1920s to elect officeholders in Connecticut are history.

Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal told municipal elections officials on Monday that towns and cities may no longer use the lever machines in primaries set for Sept. 11, ending their use. They will be replaced with optical scan voting machines that officials say provide a reliable paper trail.

The General Assembly authorized Bysiewicz in 2005 to obtain voting technology to bring Connecticut into compliance with new federal standards.

In addition, a state law enacted this year requires recounts in 10 percent of voting precincts statewide to confirm that the new voting technology works. Bysiewicz said there is no way to comply with state law using the lever machines.

"The legislature was very clear in its intent that these procedures are necessary, and that we are moving on to new technology," she said. "Having a uniform system makes the most sense. It's confusing to voters to have to go from one election using levers to another with optical scan and then back to levers."


Elephant takes action, assisting in tsunami relief work...

R E P U B L I C A N   P A R T Y   I N    W E S T O N


FIRST FORMAL FILINGS:  Who's running for what?
CAUCUS:  Republicans met Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 8 p.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Room

Selectman, First  - Woody Bliss
Selectman - W. Glenn Major
Tax Collector - Charity Nichols
Town Clerk - Donna Anastasia
Board of Finance:  Patrice P. Kopas, Richard D. Nichols
Board of Education:  Ellen H. Uzenoff, Leslie L. Wolf
Board of Assessment Appeals - Susan Seath
Planning and Zoning Commission: Katheryn H. Gregory, Donald L. Saltzman
Zoning Board of Appeals - Richard B. Wolf, Caroline A. Armbrust Mulcahey
Police Commission - William J. Brady, Jess DiPasquale


Donkey is thoughtful and knows its own mind.


D E M O C R A T I C    P A R T Y    I N    W E S T O N



FIRST FORMAL FILINGS:  Who's running for what?

 

CAUCUS:  Democrats met Monday, July 23, 2007 at 8 p.m. in the Town Library Community Room

First Selectman - Gayle Weinstein
Selectman - Steve Ezzes
Board of Finance - Michael O'Brien, Melissa Koller
Board of Education - Phil Schaefer, Dana Levin
Planning and Zoning - Jane Connolly
Zoning Board of Appeals - Bob Gardner
Zoning Board of Appeals (Alternate) - Harriette Heller
Police Commission - Beth Gralnick, John Hammerslough

P E T I T I O N I N G    C A N D I D A T E

Petitioning Candidate James Maggio has turned in forms to run for the office of Selectman.
 

L A S T   L O C A L   E L E C T I O N  - N O    C O N T E S T E D    O F F I C E S
WHO GOT HOW MANY VOTES?  CHECK IT OUT BELOW!  Top vote-getter...First Selectman Woody Bliss.
Number and percent turnout of registered Weston voters November 8, 2005 = 1295 (@21%) plus small number of absentees

First Selectman
1A - Woody Bliss     995

Selectman
2A - W. Glenn Major    753
2B- Richard Miller       515

Tax Collector
3A- Charity B. Nichols    921

Board of Finance

4A- Gerald T Sargent III    835
4B- Robert Atkinson   704
5A- Michael Carter    869
5B- David Muller    643
8B- Michael O’Brien    680

Board of Education

9A- Joseph J. Fitzpatrick    878
9B- Richard Bochinski   665
10A- Lyn Kimberly   867
12B- Melissa Koller   691

Board of Assessment Appeals 

13A- Jeffrey K. Tallman    597
13B- Marina Coprio   515   

 

Planning & Zoning Commission

14A- Daniel F. Gilbert    823
14B- Paul Heifetz     661
15A- Stephan B. Grozinger   848
17B- Jane Connelly    668

Zoning Board of Appeals
18A- Frederick C. Noyes      843
18B- W. MacLeod Snaith    636
20A- Carolyn A Armbrust Mulcahey    842
20B- Jennifer Gremmel Hunt  652 

ZBA Alternates
22A-Arthur Hahn - Alt - 822
22B- Richard Goldberg - Alt -  660
23A- Robert A. Morse Jr. -  Alt     831

Police Commission

25A- Peter J. Ottomano    823
25B- Walter Marcus   668
26A- Richard G. Phillips   791
26B- Richard Saltz     704



ABSENTEE  BALLOT  APPLICATIONS  FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTION NOVEMBER  8,  2005...Absentee ballot applications are available only if you will be unable to appear at your polling place (Weston Middle School Gym) on the day of the election for one of the following reasons:
1)   your active service in the US armed forces
2)   your absence from town during all the hours of voting
3)   your illness
4)   your physical disability
5)   your religion forbids secular (non-religious) activity on that day
6)   your required performance of duties as a primary, referendum or election official at a polling place other than your own during all the hours on that day.  APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TOWN CLERK’S OFFICE - 56 NORFIELD ROAD:  Hours:  Monday – Friday   9:00 am – 4:30 pm;  Saturday  November 5th   9:00 am – 12:00 pm.  Please call the Town Clerk’s office with questions: 222-2616
Index:
  1. CANDIDATE NAMES AND PHOTOS, IN THE ORDER THEY APPEAR ON THE BALLOT;
  2. Absentee Ballot applications now available...first step is to read the Town Clerk's reminder and warning, above;
  3. The League of  Women Voters of Weston hosted an event at the Weston Library the morning of Saturday, October 1, 2005 featuring the Board of Selectmen candidates.  All other candidates on the ballot in '05, such Board of Education candidates, or members of the Board of Finance, Police Commission, Planning and Zoning Commission or Zoning Board of Appeals, were invited and about half came.  Click HERE for our review of the event.
  4. The local election campaign 2005, with no contests, will, nevertheless contain opportunity to meet some of the candidates prior to Election Day, Tuesday, November 8, 2005.  The "Ballot Lottery" or order of names on the ballot by Party and Office, was conducted September 14, 2005 at 9AM in the Town
  5. Clerk's Office.
  6. The latest draft of names for ballot, by Party (not by particular place on ballot by type of term [some must run for 2 year terms if appointed in-between elections if they are filling a to-be-unexpired term]) HERE.
  7. LATEST CHANGES IN CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW:  P.A.05-235:
  8. Always, when you have voting questions, contact Town of Weston Registrars of Voters;
  9. Who also has the basic information in Weston about voting?
Link to Town of Weston info at on-line version of Connecticut State Register and Manual.


The Campaign so far...both Parties support protection of Long Island Sound as a recreational and natural treasure.  More environmental matters at next meeting...First Night buttons ready!  LWV of Weston event...

August 18, 2005 (l.) Selectmen's Regular Meeting (after a public hearing regarding the creation of an Aquifer Protection Agency), sparsely attended, but televised on Channel 79, no action was taken.  Also on the agenda, the Board unanimously agrees to endorse opposition to the LNG proposal for Long Island Sound.  Save the Sound attorney Leah Lopez at left;  Selectman Richard Miller (D), First Selectman Woody Bliss (R) and Selectman Glenn Major (R);  Town Clerk taking notes (to right of Mr. Major).
September 1, 2005 (c.)  Conservation Commission requests public hearing to discuss increase in fees to applicants (to cover costs to Town of hiring experts to refute questionable data in complex applications);  request by Town Administrator to hire Land Use Administrator for reorganized land use-related (P&Z, ZBA, Conservation) department.  (To go to Board of Finance at a later meeting of that body.)
September 15, 2005 (r.)  First Night committee makes request for this year ($7500) and gets support;  Cartbridge bridge repair not a go yet;  discussion of special relief effort for Katrina community ("suster city") as proposed by resident.
October 1, 2005 - LWV of Weston "What's Next For Weston"
October 6, 2005 - notes on Regular Selectmen's Meeting (see "other business")
October 20, 2004 - Executive Session re:  police lawsuit.
 
Offices to be filled (30 candidates)
Weston CT Municipal Election coming November 8, 2005:  unofficial snapshots of those running for office this year...
Do you know who these people (below) are?  By Board or Commission, here is a hint...which are Democrats and which are Republicans?  How many people are on these Boards or Commissions (do you know who among these candidates is new?)...how long are the terms of office...do you know what these Boards or Commissions do?  How do you find some of the answers to some of these questions?

THE BALLOT 2005 (with "About Town" photos - less formal than some others you will see!)

Board of Selectmen:  Woody Bliss (talking to Representative John Stripp) and the family of Glenn Major (candidate second from right in center photo), Richard Miller.



Tax Collector:  Charity Nichols.

Board of Finance:  Jerry Sargent, Bob Atkinson, Mike Carter, David Muller, Mike O'Brien.

Board of Education:  Joe Fitzpatrick, Dick Bochinski, Lyn Kimberly and Melissa Koller

Board of Assessment Appeals:  Jeff Tallman and Marina Coprio.

Planning and Zoning Commission:  Dan Gilbert, Stephan Grozinger and Paul Heifetz (sorry--we did not get highly qualified new candidate Jane Connolly).

Zoning Board of Appeals:  Nick Noyes, MacLeod Snaith (not shown--we didn't have one of "Cloudy" on hand - sorry!), Carolyn A. Armbrust Mulcahey and family, Jennifer Gremmel Hunt;  ZBA Alternates:  Richard Goldberg - no pictures in our files for other highly qualified alternates Arthur Hahn or Robert Morse - sorry.

Police Commission:  Peter Ottomano., Wally Marcus, Rick Phillips, and Rick Saltz

Absentee Ballot Application "...is to be returned to the municipal clerk" - in Weston, this person is:

Donna M. Anastasia, Town Clerk
Town of Weston
P.O.Box 1007
56 Norfield Road
Weston, CT 06883



Dates to watch in election process 2005: 
(Friday) OCTOBER 28, 2005
MUNICIPAL CLERK
SAMPLE BALLOT LABEL. Last day for clerk to file with Secretary of the State
sample of completed ballot label. (Sec. 9-256)





Offices to be filled, Weston (not the official statement):
When we post a draft sample ballot here soon, you can see the little difference in who is running for which seat EXACTLY on a Board of Commission...



Ballot Lottery 2005 decides a minor point - but every detail is covered to ensure honest elections!
BALLOT LOTTERY September 14, 2005, 9am at the Town Clerk's Office:
Order of names decided in chance drawing in the Town Clerk's Office wherever there are multiple candidates for seats on a particular Board or Commission--chance drawing ONLY within the same PARTY LINE by Office...

Dates gone by...(thru August 10 - again, not the official record)


LATER IN THE PROCESS...BALLOT LOTTERY (WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2005, 9AM, Town Clerk's Office);

VOTE BY MAIL

Absentee Ballot Applications On Line (as was stated above)

http://www.sots.ct.gov

Mail your applications to:

Town Clerk
Town of Weston
P.O. 1007
Weston CT 06883


Sample or "COPY"...Ballot posted here.

Town of Weston WEBSITE;
Town Clerk's Office: link.


WHAT'S NEXT FOR WESTON...we ask, more of the same?  Since there are no contested offices, just some new faces on some Boards and Commissions!  Below are photos from the LWV of Weston event "What's Next For Weston (Oct. 1, 2005)"

Board of Selectmen and Moderator from LWVCT...

Questioners read from prepared notes in some cases...inspired by discussion, in others.

Some people just said what was on their mind...P&Z, Emergency Preparedness or School Budget  (education advocate locates at exit--thus being prepared!)

Replays of past controversies and repeat of class size complaints...

Reply from Board of Education in the audience,  more concern for disaster planning and the first live question--after Moderator reads e-mailed  query about  performance space...

Replay of Town Meeting;  still on the fence, as it were...and relieved moderator and LWV President after the event ended.