This election will be the first time in recent memory that voters will have three parties to choose from on the municipal election ballot. In addition to endorsed candidates from the Republican and majority Democratic parties, voters will see candidates from the Clinton First party. While one party may be new, the names at the top of each ticket will be familiar to most readers: Democratic incumbent William "Willie" Fritz, Republican Town Committee (RTC) Chair Phil Sengle, and Clinton First candidate (and former RTC chair) Vincent Cimino.

The new party, which identifies itself as being a collaboration of Republicans, Democrats, and unaffiliated Clinton residents, has 10 candidates on this year's ballot running against the Republicans and Democrats in town.

"The Clinton First Party has been established in response to residents' overall dissatisfaction with the two major party slates," explained Cimino, who was unanimously endorsed to run for the first selectman seat on the Clinton First ticket.

In addition to serving as the former RTC chair, Cimino has served as chairman of the Historic Village District Commission and also on the Economic Development Commission, the Conservation Commission, and as a town constable.

Cimino's main focus, if elected, will be on taxes. He would like the town to see a zero-percent increase in taxes and has worked hard in the past to present an alternative plan for the town, at budget time, which would require no increases.

"I feel the residents of Clinton are unnecessarily over-taxed. In addition, I feel that the town is not doing a good job addressing the waste water issue. There is clear evidence that solutions are available but they are not being used," said Cimino.

He added, "The current administration has done a terrible job generating economic development. One of my primary goals is to market the town and increase the attractiveness here, to both businesses and residents."

Republican candidate Phil Sengle is a retired engineer and sales director who has served in the Navy and acted as a volunteer fireman in the past. He was previously involved in politics in Plainville, where he served as the RTC chairman and served on that town's Tax Review Committee, two Charter Revision commissions, and the School Reuse Committee. In Clinton, Sengle was named the first chair of the newly formed Fair Rent Commission in 2010. Since then, he became chairman of the RTC, is a member of the William Stanton Andrews Memorial Town Hall Renovation Committee, served on Planning & Zoning as an alternate, was elected to the Police Commission in 2011, and is now a citizen volunteer on the Planning & Zoninig Commission sub-committee formulating the new Town Plan of Conservation and Development.

Sengle explained, "I believe the voters of Clinton deserve a qualified and respectable choice. I hope the voters agree that I am that choice. I have no agenda but to serve. I plan on growing Clinton's Grand List to spread out our tax burden and grow our way to prosperity."

In addition, Sengle said that he is "very much a proponent of strict respect for the town charter and the voters at town meetings.

"Sometimes I feel as though the charter is 'bent' and the voters do not get the respect they deserve at meetings. I plan to change that," stated Sengle.

Fritz is currently serving his fourth term in town and looking forward to a fifth term. Fritz, a longtime resident of Clinton, is a native of Wallingford. This University of Connecticut graduate and devout baseball fan, who coaches his son's team, said he has been instrumental in securing several state and federal grants for the town of Clinton, the latest being the $500,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant that will be used to continue the business district streetscape upgrades.

Fritz explained that, if re-elected, he has hopes of keeping Clinton on the upward cycle of business development, as well as continuing with capital infrastructure projects in Clinton.

"There are several new businesses getting ready to move into town, and the new high school project is going smoothly. Everything is successful, and we are working hard to keep that upswing moving forward," said an optimistic Fritz.