Stratford Primary Election Likely Amid Democrats' Dispute

STRATFORD, CT — It appears Stratford residents in the Zoning Board of Appeals' second district will have options when they choose the body's newest member later this year in a special election brought on by a dispute among town officials.

Former councilwoman Emma Brooks secured the Democratic Town Committee's candidacy endorsement Thursday, after Councilman Paul Tavaras petitioned for an election to fill the seat held by Lorenzo Elder.

Elder, a Democrat, was appointed in January to a vacancy on the board created by Tavaras's election to the Town Council, but when Elder didn't support certain board members in their bids to be chair and vice chair of the body, it created a rift with some in the party.

Elder was invited to Thursday's endorsement meeting, committee Chair Stephanie Philips said, but did not attend. Brooks was the sole candidate to seek the Democrat endorsement and received unanimous support from the roughly 100 committee members present, according to Philips.

"I am a solutions-focused person and that's why I become involved," said Brooks, a social worker who previously held a seat on the appeals board and has also served as vice chair of the Democratic committee.

Brooks said concern about affordable housing developments that may not be in the best interest of the community drew her to run for the board.

Elder said Friday he intends to challenge Brooks in a primary and that he will also speak at the next Town Council meeting. The council in February had a tense discussion about why Tavaras wanted the special election.

"I'm not going to be a puppet for anyone," Elder said.

A coach at Sterling House Community Center and an involved parent of students at Stratford Public Schools, Elder is retired and has not previously held an elected position, but said he's concerned about the availability of services for residents of Stratford's south end.

"We have to work together," he said. "... All this fighting doesn't get us anywhere."

Should Elder get the necessary signatures to qualify for a primary, the election will be held May 5.

Stratford's Republican Town Committee intends in the coming weeks to endorse its own candidate for the special election June 30, according to committee Chair Lou DeCilio.

Combined, the primary and special elections are expected to cost the town about $15,000, according to DeCilio, who is also one of Stratford's two registrars of voters. The contested appeals board seat expires Jan. 1, 2022.