Southbury First Selectman Race: Manville Vs. Boritz

SOUTHBURY, CT — Southbury’s 2019 municipal election will feature incumbent First Selectman Jeff Manville versus Democrat Richard Boritz.

Manville first ran for first selectman four years ago. He didn’t get nominated by the Republican Town Committee to run for first selectman again, but won the nomination from town party members during the September primary.

Manville worked in the heavy equipment industry as a mechanic and branch manager for an equipment dealer before becoming first selectman. He also helps maintain his family’s farm.

“My family has always worked hard to build and maintain our farm,” Manville said on his campaign website. “It is the center of our family life and requires a devotion to the land that no other day job does. The farm has required a lifetime of physical labor, but also requires a keen business sense and sound judgement.””

Manville served as an inland wetland commissioner, volunteer fireman, historic tree restoration volunteer and on several committees for organizations in town.

Manville said he has reduced police overtime from $280,000 in fiscal year 2015 to $178,000 in 2020. He also touted the town’s use of chip sealing to extend the life of roads in town at a reduced cost to taxpayers.

The town, Heritage Village/CT Water, the Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition and CPV Towantic Energy formed an agreement to help maintain flows of the Pomperaug River.

Boritz is running for first selectman as a Democrat. He holds a masters of library science degree and was a school library media specialist for 38 years in the Stamford Public School system. He earned the Highly Qualified Teacher Certification while in Stamford Public Schools.

He is also a retired member of the Connecticut Army National Guard where he served for 22 years and obtained the rank of major. He commanded a battery of howitzers and served as the logistics office and operations office of 105mm and 155 mm Howitzer Battalions.

He was a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission in Newtown from 2012 to 2014 and helped organize donations that came into town after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Bortiz said he also helped develop a plan to raise operating revenue without increasing the monthly maintenance fee at Heritage Village as part of its Long Range Planning Committee.

“Southbury needs leadership with a vision that encourages appropriate economic development in a transparent process,” Bortitz said. “I will use Southbury’s assets in a fiscally responsible way to make it a more vibrant and attractive place in which to live, shop and do business.”

Bortiz said that Manville doesn’t have a blueprint for moving the town forward, including not hiring an economic development director and not supporting the town’s Strategic Plan.

He also said parks have deteriorated in town and many residents find the current facilities distasteful.

Boritz commended schools for adding solar panels in an effort to help the environment and save taxpayers money. He said he would investigate a similar project for municipal buildings.