Vernon Election 2021: Champagne Running Again, GOP Slate Named

VERNON, CT — Vernon Mayor Daniel Champagne will be running again in November for a term that would put him in office for a decade. The Vernon Republican Town Committee has also chosen the rest of the local slate.

Here is the GOP lineup:

• Town Council: Laura Bush, William Campbell, Julie Clay, Linda Gessay, Brian Motola, Jim Tedford, Michael Wendus, and John O’Connell.
• Board of Education: Patricia Buxton and Mason Thrall for four-year terms; Mark Kalina and Deborah Rodriguez for two-year terms.

After accepting the nomination, Champagne said, "For the last eight years I have enjoyed working as your mayor. The mil rate has remained the same for four years, no tax increase. This includes a road bond that has fixed 90 percent of our roads, a sewer plant upgrade in progress, new parks and sports fields, new fire trucks, infrastructure upgrades all over town. I continue to look for cost savings, fight blight, bring businesses to town — even during a pandemic — and bring innovation to town government, which continues to be copied all across our state. During the pandemic, we found ways to get food to our needy, found ways to let our people vote with drive through voting, drive through trick-or-treating and a drive through Christmas display. On top of that, we had a nationally recognized vaccination program. If elected I will continue to watch your tax dollars, continue to upgrade our infrastructure, protect our natural resources and to always care for the town I grew up in, worked in and loved most of my life."