Norwich — A new political action committee has been formed to support the six Norwich Democratic candidates for Board of Education, similar to the committee formed in June to support Democratic City Council candidates.

“Achieve Excellence for Norwich Students” has raised about $1,800 thus far, committee Chairman Joe East said. The next campaign finance report filing is due Oct. 10.

The education PAC will support the six candidates endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee in July: Joyce Werden, Robert Aldi, Mark Kulos, James Maloney, Heather Romanski and Yvette Jacaruso.

East said fundraisers are being planned. Money raised by the committee will pay for joint campaign material, including signs, fliers, pamphlets and door-hangers for candidates campaigning door-to-door, East said.

“I figured if I wasn't going to run as a candidate, I could support those who are running,” said East, a retired city employee and town committee member.

A similar committee, called “A Clean Slate for Norwich,” was formed in June to support the six endorsed Democratic council candidates. Democratic mayoral candidate Derell Wilson has his own fundraising committee, Wilson for Norwich Mayor.

Democratic Town Committee Chairman Larry Goldman said while this is the first time local PACs are being used in Norwich, the practice has been common in other towns. Goldman said it’s easier and more efficient than having the town committee fund various campaigns or asking individual candidates to form their own committees.

In past races, some candidates raised money on their own, while others relied on town committee support. With the separate dedicated PACs for council and school board candidates, campaign literature can focus on issues important to those candidates and constituents, Goldman said.

“If the town committee runs it, then we have to deal with all the issues top to bottom of the slate,” Goldman said. “They can focus on their specific issues of each race.”

Republican Town Committee Chairwoman Linda Becker said the RTC has no plans to form PACs to support the six council candidates and five school board candidates. The town committee will support all the candidates financially, Becker said. Mayoral candidate Peter Nystrom has his own fundraising committee, Nystrom for Norwich17.

Becker called the Democratic PACs “smoke and mirrors” and prefers the traditional way — she termed “up front” — of financing campaigns for council and school board candidates.

“We’re doing it through the town committee,” Becker said. “I am not one to support PACs. I think the funds should come from the individuals, rather than all in one place. I like it better our way. Everybody in the race is (supported) through the town committee, running as a slate. That’s the way I’ve always seen it done.”

Four Libertarian candidates for City Council list their funding source as the Libertarian Party of Norwich, with Libertarian mayoral candidate William Russell as chairman. Russell also listed the party as his funding source, and does not plan to raise money.

Two petitioning mayoral candidates, Jon Oldfield and Joseph Radecki, are on the ballot. Oldfield filed a campaign committee, Oldfield for Mayor, but had not raised the minimum $1,000 needed to file a detailed campaign finance report at the last reporting date. Radecki has not yet filed his candidacy on the state Elections Enforcement Commission website. In August, he said he did not plan to raise “a lot of money” for the campaign.

c.bessette@theday.com