Letter to the Editor: CC4A Releases Candidate Endorsements for Election 2013

Dear Friends, 

The CC4A is a non-partisan organization committed to ensuring that Avon’s schoolchildren are served to the best of the community’s ability. Next week, we have an opportunity to elect the most skilled and qualified people, regardless of party affiliation, to the offices that determine the quality of Avon’s schools and fulfill our mission. This is an election that will have lasting impact.

Our leadership team is comprised of 50% Unaffiliated, 35% Democratic and 15% Republican voters with unique opinions, experiences and perspectives that we believe reflect our greater constituency.  Through extensive deliberation using a comprehensive process*, we have selected ten candidates for election to the three boards that directly impact our schools: the Board of Education, Board of Finance and Town Council. 

As you review this information, please remember that to make a difference on election day, November 5th, you must vote only for the candidates you support.  Although you are permitted to vote for UP TO 6 candidates for a seat, you should only vote for those you sincerely want to see elected.  Voting otherwise helps to elect candidates you don’t support.

CC4A 2013 Endorsed Candidates:

Board of Finance:  6 candidates running, 4 seats available, 3 CC4A endorsed candidates:

Tom Gugliotti                   Doug York                 Laura Young

We have endorsed these three highly qualified candidates and not three incumbent candidates who have consistently ignored the budget recommendations of the town and school experts, and arbitrarily cut these budgets without allowing residents to vote on them as proposed. This has resulted in chronic underfunding of schools and town services.  The lack of proper road and infrastructural maintenance, and of necessary improvements and updates to school curriculum and resources, will cost Avon taxpayers more in the long run.

Board of Education: 5 candidates running, 4 seats available, 3 CC4A endorsed candidates:

Joanne Beers                            Jay Spivak                         Kathy Zirolli

Town Council:  6 candidates running, 5 seats available, 4 CC4A endorsed candidates:

Ben Colman                      Heather Maguire              David Pena                Mark Zacchio

*Our guiding question in deciding whom to endorse in this (or any) election cycle is:

How well will this candidate help us fulfill our mission to restore, preserve and grow educational excellence in Avon?  To answer this question we engaged in:

-Extensive deliberation among our members

-Analysis of candidate statements and publicity materials

-Assessment of qualifications including relevant subject matter expertise and professional/ volunteer experience

-Review of voting history

-Direct observation of current board members at work and proof of their efforts to create transparency in the budgetary process and to build public confidence in the budgets.

Note: CC4A does not consider party affiliation in selecting candidates.  In 2011, we endorsed 4 Democratic and 5 Republican candidates.  This year, we endorse 7 Democrats and 3 Republicans.

We hope you will join us in voting for these ten excellent candidates,

The CC4A Leadership Team