Congdon fights off challenger in Preston selectman race

Preston — Although some residents talked about change after they voted Tuesday, they kept 14-year incumbent Robert Congdon as first selectman.

Selectman incumbent Michael Sinko, a Republican, will fill the seat of second selectman with Timothy Bowles, the Democratic candidate for first selectman, filling out the board. About 33 percent of the registered voters, or 1,164, cast ballots.

Several people said the redevelopment of the former Norwich State Hospital property brought them out to vote. The candidates for first selectman have two different visions for the site.

Bowles was pushing for a local, regional, state and federal partnership to create a clean energy research and development complex. He suggested working with universities on a cluster focused on fuel cells, photo voltaic technology, wind turbines and other renewable energy systems.

Congdon said he's welcoming of Bowles' ideas. He favors working with the Preston Redevelopment Agency, which was formed shortly after taxpayers voted to purchase the hospital property. The agency is in charge of marketing the property and has been active in securing grants for remediation of the site.

"As a town we have a lot of work to do," Congdon said. "From here on we go to work on the best interests of the town."

Resident Gil Lamphere said he embraced the leadership of Bowles because he felt it was time for a change. He'd like to see immediate action with the hospital property.

"It's seems to be the same old politics," Lamphere said. "There are no businesses in town, no tax base and the hospital is killing us. By the time they make a decision, I'll be 100 years old."

Others said they were concerned with the impact on their taxes for the costs of cleaning up the 390-acre site, estimated at almost $30 million.

"I kind of wanted change, but I decided to stick with where we are right now," said one resident who only wanted to be identified by her first name, Catherine. "I don't think any of them know what they want to do with the property."

a.renczkowski@theday.com