Montville ― Two well-known Town Council members have squared off this year in a bid to become the first new mayor in town since 2011.

Leonard Bunnell, a self-described conservative Democrat and retired police officer, is running against Town Council Chairman Tom McNally ― also chairman of the Republican Town Committee ― to fill the vacancy left by retiring Democratic Mayor Ronald McDaniel.

And while residents have elected a Democratic mayor for the past two decades, the Town Council has shifted back and forth between Republican and Democratic majorities over the past four elections. Republicans hold a 4-3 majority at the moment and have six candidates for council -- including McNally -- on this year’s ballot. Democrats are fielding five candidates

No more than five people from any one party can hold a seat on the council because of minority representation rules.

McNally, 47, is the owner of T&S Lawncare and Property Management, has served three terms on the Town Council and is a former Board of Education member who has served on a variety of boards and commissions in town. McNally, in his third try running for the four-year term as mayor, said he thinks the town has been stagnant too long and blames Democrats for being part of the problem.

“The big issue that everybody is always concerned with is taxes. Because of a lack of commercial development our grand list has not grown. This leaves the burden on the taxpayers to fund the budget,” McNally said.

McNally said the formerly Democratic-controlled Town Council may have kept taxes down, “but if you don’t do anything and you’re not spending any money of course you can keep taxes flat at the same time town buildings are falling apart...”

“We need to invest in our town,” McNally said in an email.

McNally did not respond to The Day by phone.

Bunnell, 73, spent 42 years with the Montville Police Department and retired as a lieutenant in 2018. He went on to work as an account manager for Securitas Security at Pfizer in Groton, but has since left his job to focus on his campaign and, if elected, the job of running the town.

Bunnell said growth of the town’s tax base would be a key focus if elected. He thinks growth must be balanced with responsible spending.

As mayor, Bunnell said, he would ensure the town’s planning officials all they need to move development forward without sacrificing the things that make Montville a desirable place to live.

Bunnell credits outgoing Mayor McDaniel for steady progress in addressing town infrastructure needs such as road repairs and building upgrades and plans to continue to “address the problems on a regular but fiscally responsible rate.”

The town, he said, is looking “for someone to be able to get a grip on spending, attract development and be responsive to the people’s needs,” Bunnell said.

This year’s field of Democratic candidates are Kate Southard, Joe Jaskiewicz, Nick Sabilia and incumbents Tim May and BIlly Caron.

Republican candidates for council are Frank Miceli, Sheelagh Lapinski, Kevin Lathrop and incumbents Robert Yuchniuk, Alfred Mandler and McNally.

Democrats:

Joe Jaskiewicz, 79, is a former mayor who served 10 years on the Town Council and thinks “the town is headed in a good direction.” Jaskiewicz said he would bring needed experience to the decision making process and said that while he agrees the town needs to maintain its facilities and roads, the council also needs to find a balance that limits further tax increases.

Billy Caron, 56, owner of Caron Investment Properties and employee at W.R. Allen Co., is the president of the nonprofit “Need to Ride,” and completing his 18th year on the Town Council. Caron said he remains “committed to easing the tax burden to our residents by working with the Mayor on attracting new businesses and sustaining the businesses we have already in Town.”

Tim May, 58, in his fifth term on the Town Council, said he remains committed to “quality and affordable education for our youth,” increasing outreach programs for seniors and raising funds for veterans, social services and seniors in need, and “fiscal responsibility and accountability regarding the town budget.”

Nick Sabilia, 32, manages the Student Support Center at Montville High School, coaches football and basketball and is the chairman of the Conservation Commission. “I decided to run for office because I love Montville and want to have an even greater impact on the town. I would like to inspire younger members of the community to get involved.”

Kate Southard, 53, is a teacher and chairwoman of the Parks and Recreation Commission. She plans continued support for the town’s parks and programs, wants to bring in more resources for seniors and to maintain “a responsible education budget while assuring our students receive a future focused education needed to be college, career and enlistment ready.”

Republicans:

Kevin Lathrop, 46, is a carpenter with East Construction LLC, on the board of directors for the nonprofit group Sails Up 4 Cancer and commissioner for the Water Pollution Control Authority. “I look forward to helping the town grow, meeting new people from town to get a feel for what the real needs and wants are, and I look forward to the challenges of the changing times and guiding us through them.”

Alfred J. Mandler, 63, is seeking his second term on the council. He is the former chief of the Cohanzie Fire Co. #5 and vice president of the Waterford Ambulance Association. Mandler said he is focused on both the education of children in town and safety and well being of seniors. He said the town needs to be poised for future growth in order to expand its tax base to lower taxes.

Frank Miceli, 49, works in marketing and advertising as a senior multimedia designer and is seeking his first term on the Town Council. He is a member of the Montville Water & Sewer Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. Miceli said he decided to run for office as a reaction to “the deplorable condition of the Montville Animal Shelter,” and is on a mission to see a new shelter be built.

Sheelagh Lapinski, 60, a member of the Board of Education, Youth Service Commission and Economic Development Commission, is making her first run at a Town Council seat. “Using my experience on the Economic Development Commission, I would like to bring more business to Montville to help lower the property tax for Montville residents.”

Robert Yuchniuk, 56, is a former member of the zoning board of appeals and chairman of the Montville public safety commission who is seeking a second term on the Town Council. He said he wants to see the council “carry on the forward momentum we have begun,” and thinks the town’s biggest concern is the need to bring in more commercial businesses to help regulate taxes.