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BLOOMFIELD — -
An overwhelming edge in voter registrations and more than three decades of unbroken success would seem to point to another victory for Democrats in the Nov. 3 municipal election.
But despite long odds, Republican Town Chairman Joseph D. Wactowski said his party is waging an aggressive, all-out campaign.
Attorney Sydney Schulman, who has served as mayor since 2003, leads a Democratic council slate of six incumbents. On the ballot with him are Donald Harris Jr., Joan Gamble, Larry Pleasant, Leon Rivers and Jonathan Colman.
The GOP candidates feature veterans Joseph Merritt, John Sheehan, Robert Berman and newcomers Lorne Rozovsky, an attorney, and Mark Jacobs, owner of a local printing company.
"You cannot get better people than we've got," Wactowski said.
Nearly 60 percent of the town's 14,793 registered voters are Democrats. Unaffiliated voters outnumber Republicans by a 3-to-1 margin. The GOP has not held the majority since the 1970s.
"We think the tax situation is horrendous for a town our size. We're asking people what are they getting for their money," Wactowski said. He pointed to the town's education system in which standardized test scores continue to lag. "For what we are paying, a town our size should have the best education system in the country and we're far from that," he said.
Petitioning candidate Douglas J. Sullivan is also seeking a seat.
Both Wactowski and Schulman said they recognize that the economy will continue to shape town life over the next two years.
Schulman said the adoption of the current budget was "extremely painful," resulting in layoffs that included the town's economic development officer. But despite the tough times, Schulman said it is imperative that the next council move forward with efforts to spur economic growth, especially in the town center.
"I'm really disappointed that we were not able to revitalize the center of Bloomfield. That's going to be a focus of mine if I'm re-elected," he said.
Also on the ballot, four candidates are competing for three four-year terms on the board of education. Incumbent Democrats Derrick Seldon and Richard Dale Jr. are challenged by Republicans Thomas Moore and Susan True.
Incumbent Shirley Thompson is seeking another two-year term. She was endorsed by both parties.
But despite long odds, Republican Town Chairman Joseph D. Wactowski said his party is waging an aggressive, all-out campaign.
Attorney Sydney Schulman, who has served as mayor since 2003, leads a Democratic council slate of six incumbents. On the ballot with him are Donald Harris Jr., Joan Gamble, Larry Pleasant, Leon Rivers and Jonathan Colman.
The GOP candidates feature veterans Joseph Merritt, John Sheehan, Robert Berman and newcomers Lorne Rozovsky, an attorney, and Mark Jacobs, owner of a local printing company.
"You cannot get better people than we've got," Wactowski said.
Nearly 60 percent of the town's 14,793 registered voters are Democrats. Unaffiliated voters outnumber Republicans by a 3-to-1 margin. The GOP has not held the majority since the 1970s.
"We think the tax situation is horrendous for a town our size. We're asking people what are they getting for their money," Wactowski said. He pointed to the town's education system in which standardized test scores continue to lag. "For what we are paying, a town our size should have the best education system in the country and we're far from that," he said.
Petitioning candidate Douglas J. Sullivan is also seeking a seat.
Both Wactowski and Schulman said they recognize that the economy will continue to shape town life over the next two years.
Schulman said the adoption of the current budget was "extremely painful," resulting in layoffs that included the town's economic development officer. But despite the tough times, Schulman said it is imperative that the next council move forward with efforts to spur economic growth, especially in the town center.
"I'm really disappointed that we were not able to revitalize the center of Bloomfield. That's going to be a focus of mine if I'm re-elected," he said.
Also on the ballot, four candidates are competing for three four-year terms on the board of education. Incumbent Democrats Derrick Seldon and Richard Dale Jr. are challenged by Republicans Thomas Moore and Susan True.
Incumbent Shirley Thompson is seeking another two-year term. She was endorsed by both parties.