Old Saybrook school board race features seven vying for 5 seats

Old Saybrook - Seven candidates are vying for five seats on the Board of Education this fall. Each brings a unique perspective to the table, whether through the candidate's time on the board, his or her profession or with experience as a parent of a child who went to the public schools.

Republican Joanne M. Sullivan, 44, is a nurse. Republican Holly R. King and her husband both attended Old Saybrook schools and have four children who are currently in or have passed through the town's schools.

Republican incumbent Donna C. Dunn, 42, was appointed to the school board last year and works as a diagnostic medical sonographer. Democrat Salvatrice "Sally" F. Keating, 67, is a math professor at Eastern Connecticut State University. And Democrat John F. Claffey Jr., the sole male candidate this November for the four-year term, is a retired teacher.

"A well-respected school system, it's really the heart of a healthy community," said Democratic incumbent Karen E. Brodeur, who has served on the board for 16 years. "And it makes Old Saybrook a more desirable place to live in. Administering a school is like any other business, it's really a constant balancing act."

For Brodeur, who owns a retail store in Madison, the challenge is in running a progressive school district while also being sensitive to the economic climate. Residents overwhelmingly approved the district's $20.7 million school budget, a 3.69 percent increase, this year, which Brodeur took to mean residents understood the board's conservative budgeting practice.

Brodeur and fellow Democratic incumbent Eileen D. Baker agreed that the key to ensuring the ongoing success of Old Saybrook schools was continuing to work closely with the boards of selectmen and finance during the budget season and for building maintenance needs.

"We're really all about the same mission," said Baker, who has been on the board for 20 years and works as a consultant specializing in the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing. "And that's educating the young people and making sure all our services are being provided."

Other races

Other candidates for the Nov. 3 election are Republican incumbent Sarah V. Becker and Democrat Joan B. Strickland for town clerk; Republican incumbent Robert W. Fish for town treasurer; Republican incumbent Barry E. Maynard for tax collector; Republican incumbents George W. Whelen IV and David F. LaMay, Republican Grant W. Westerson, Democrats Daniel M. Moran, John P. Duhig and Barry S. O'Nell and Democratic incumbents Glenis G. Caouette and John J. O'Brien for Board of Finance; Republican incumbents Ruth M. FitzGerald and Geraldine M. Lewis and Democratic incumbent Cornelius B. McCrudden for Board of Assessment Appeals; Republican incumbent Donald J. Ranaudo and Democratic incumbent Janis L. Esty for Planning Commission; Republican incumbents Geraldine M. Lewis and Robert C. Friedmann and Democrat Elizabeth D. Steffen for Zoning Commission.

Also running are Republican incumbents Brian F. Dooley, Dorothy T. Alexander and Rexford H. McCall and Democrat Ihsan B. Akin for Zoning Board of Appeals; Republican incumbent Alan Fogg, Republican Kent Phillip Johnson and Democrats Mary E. Kennedy and Henry (Hank) M. Kelsey for Zoning Board of Appeals alternate; Republican incumbents Jean B. Winkler and Christina P. Burnham, Democratic incumbent Richard J. Metsack and Democrats Thomas A. Zemienieski and Emilio Joseph Scamporino for Police Commission; Republican incumbent Scott M. Giegerich, Democrat Alan D. Spargo and Democratic incumbent Robert C. Burke for Park and Recreation Commission; Republican incumbents Raymond V. Collins Jr. and Peter J. Fredrickson and Democrat Michael O'Neil for Harbor Management Commission.

Candidates for alternate seats on the Planning and Zoning commissions will be elected at the Nov. 23 town meeting because of lack of space on the Nov. 3 ballot.

j.cho@theday.com