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Community Corner

Portland Democrats Endorse Bransfield in Bid for Fifth Term

The Democratic Town Committee formalized its slate of candidates for the Nov. 8 election.

First Selectwoman Susan Bransfield, who is seeking re-election and a fifth term in office, has won the backing of the Democratic Town Committee.

The Democrats endorsed their candidates during their caucus on Monday night.

Bransfield will be running against two opponents, Republican Donald Bascom, and a third party candidate, Lambros Lambrinides, who collected enough signatures on a petition to be certified by the town clerk.

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Bransfield and other candidates said they'd be running on a record based on "keeping taxes to a minimum" and improved performance in town schools.  She said the most important job we have in Portland is education, with a solid structure K through 12.

Board of Education Chairman Christopher Phelps, echoed Bransfield, saying the Connecticut Mastery Test scores were in the middle of the pack in the state a decade ago, and were now "among the best in the state." He said the improvement in the schools came during some tough budgets with almost zero growth in spending the past several years. 

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Bransfield said she would also work to expand the tax base if re-elected, in part by attracting new commercial ventures and by reviving the stalled project on the former Elmcrest site.

Besides Bransfield, the endorsed Democrats for Board of Selectmen are Mark Finkelstein, Brian Flood and Kathleen Richards, all incumbents. Another Democrat, Fredrick Knous, is running for a full term. Knous was recently selected to replace Sharon Peters, who resigned this summer citing a need to devote more time to her family and law practice. 

For the board of education, Democrats have two candidates to serve four-year terms, Phelps and Maryanne Rode.

The candidates for board of assessment appeals are Richard Murphy and David W. O'Brien.

For zoning board of appeals, the committee backed Donald Snyder Jr. for gthe five-year term beginning 2011, and Kenneth Kearns for the five-year term beginning 2012.

Democratic Town Clerk Bernadette Dillon also was endorsed for another term. Dillon was first elected in 1977 and has served 34 years in that post.

She said, "There is no way I'd leave my Portland."

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