Election 2021: Ralph Williams For Somers Selectman

SOMERS, CT — Unaffiliated candidate Ralph Williams, 72, is running for Selectman in Somers.

Occupation: Retired Newspaperman

Family: My wife, Suzanne. We have five grown daughters who live elsewhere.

Experience: Somers Charter Revision Commission (3 times), Somersville Mill Strategic Planning Ad Hoc Committee, and currently a Zoning Board of Appeals alternate

Family in government: No

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

Keeping town government efficient and transparent in its operations and preventing the introduction of any kind of partisan meddling or patronage to its administrative operations. I favor a charter revision to put day-to-day governmental operations under a hired town administrator answerable to the Board of Selectman and enlarging the Board of Selectmen to five members.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I am under no obligation to any party leadership and am willing to confront those who would undercut competent and open government.

Accomplishments:

I devised the step-by-step plan under which the town received federal and state approvals and funding to demolish the derelict Somersville mill and to remediate its toxic-laden site. I worked across party lines on charter revisions that have improved town operations.

Other issues:

Keeping the town's oversight bodies able to implement and enforce the town's regulations as written and to ensure that well-heeled and politically connected interests don't subvert our zoning and other policies.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I am a retired newspaper editor, a 41-year resident of Somers, and a longtime active member of St. Bernard and St. Jeanne Jugan parishes.

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