Stratford Democrats' Dispute Results In Special Election

STRATFORD, CT — A dispute among Democratic elected officials in Stratford resulted in the Town Council voting Monday to hold a special election for a single seat on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Democrat Lorenzo Elder was appointed in January by the council to represent the appeals board's second district, with all councilmen present voting in favor. But Monday night, Councilman Paul Tavaras (D-District 3), said Elder reneged on an agreement about who Elder would support to be the appeals board's chair and vice chair, leading Tavaras to petition for an election to fill Elder's seat.

"I didn't come to this decision lightly," Tavaras said.

Elder had agreed to vote for Democrat board members Annette Streets and Mary Young for chair and vice chair, respectively, but instead supported Republicans Len Petruccelli and Gavin Forrester for the roles, Tavaras said, adding that Elder lacked integrity and honesty.

Elder said he told Tavaras that he didn't know the appeals board members Tavaras asked him to support and that he felt Streets and Young should have contacted him before the leadership vote.

"My reputation speaks for itself," Elder said in response to Tavaras's criticism.

Stratford Democratic Town Committee Chair Stephanie Philips said Elder did not represent the best interest of the community when he declined to support two experienced Democrats seeking leadership positions, adding Streets would have been the first black woman to chair the appeals board.

"I don't want to fight with anyone," Elder said. "... I want to work with people."

The council Monday also questioned the timeline of the election petition filing. Tavaras said he filed the petition before the appeals board selected a chair and vice chair, but did so knowing who Elder would support for the positions, adding that if Elder had voted differently than expected, the petition would have been rescinded.

"Only one or two people had an idea on which way I was leaning," Elder said in a text message Wednesday, adding Tavaras should have contacted him directly if he had an issue with how Elder planned to vote.

The special election is expected to be held June 30 in order to allow time for party endorsements and primaries, according to Democrat Registrar of Voters Rick Marcone. Zoning appeals board members are usually elected, according to council Chair Christopher Pia (R-District 1). Elder's seat was previously held by Tavaras, who vacated the position upon election to the council, resulting in Elder's appointment. The second district appeals board term up for election expires Jan. 1, 2022.

The registrars' office could run a deficit if the appeals board race requires both primary and general elections, in which case the difference would be paid out of the town's general fund, Marcone said.

"I don't think it's a cost that the town should have to pick up," Councilman David Harden (D-District 4) said.

Harden added he thought asking the town and its residents to pay for a special election was unfair.

"If that is the cost to make sure that a person has a chance to serve on the board with honesty and integrity, I consider that an investment," Tavaras said.

Despite the debate Monday about the circumstances of the request for a special election, the council was unanimous in its decision to set a date.

Philips said she anticipates the Democratic Town Committee will endorse a candidate for the seat at its meeting Feb. 20, adding she expects Elder will put his name forward and that town committee member Emma Brooks has also expressed interest in the position.

Elder said if Brooks receives the party's endorsement, he will challenge her in a primary.