Republican Primary Slated After Hundreds Challenge BOE Slate

Submitted by Republicans for Education:

"Republicans not satisfied with the proposed GOP slate of candidates for Board of Education in the upcoming November municipal election have petitioned the Town to hold a Republican Primary on Tuesday, September 14th. Republican Registrar of Voters, Gloria Nemchuk, confirmed the petition gathered from GOP registered Republicans, with over 200 signatures obtained in mere days, was more than enough to require a primary. The Republican primary has been scheduled for September 14, 2021. Only registered Guilford Republicans can vote in this Primary.

The candidates, three BOE incumbents and two newcomers, decided to join forces after expressing total dismay with the BOE candidates selected by a poorly attended GOP Caucus held in July. After hearing outrage from many in the community about the single-issue activist group chosen in the GOP Caucus, it was agreed that a primary was both necessary and in the best interest of Guilford to challenge the Caucus result.

The slate includes BOE incumbents Joseph Golino, Theodore D. Sands and Amy Sullivan, joined by William C. Mulligan (a member of the Guilford High School Building Committee that managed the construction of our new High School) and James F. O’Keefe (a former BOF member and former Chairman of the Guilford Republican Town Committee).

Amy Sullivan, currently the Vice-Chairwoman of the BOE, stated that the GOP caucus endorsed group “has been singularly focused on the issue of whether or not “Critical Race Theory” (CRT) is being (or planned to be) taught in GPS.” Ted Sands and Joe Golino joined Sullivan in stating that the entire current BOE, along with Superintendent, Dr. Paul Freemen, have unequivocally denied this. Both O’Keefe and Mulligan, who consider themselves moderate Republicans, see the CRT issue as divisive rancor with a false narrative that is certainly not focused on what is best for our children or the community as a whole.

Republicans for Education (RFE) plan to mount a campaign in the coming weeks to encourage all registered Republicans to vote for them on Sept. 14th and dispel the idea that local Republicans are out to destroy a long and hallowed history of supporting our school system and the children it serves. RFE is committed to continuing relationships with all stakeholders to assure our school system remains a system second to none in serving our community’s needs.

For additional information about the candidates and the Republicans for Education campaign, please contact our spokesperson, Jim O’Keefe, at 203-444-1927, or via email at okeefe50@aol.com."