WindsorLocksFirst Selectman Paul Harrington, running unopposed, says bipartisanship "is not dead"
Aug. 12—He said as municipal positions such as his become more complicated, it's a heavy commitment to which many people don't have time to commit.
"I'm humbled to be running unopposed," he said. "This means I have to work harder for my 12,800 bosses so they know they made the right decision."
Harrington will be serving his second consecutive term as first selectman. In 2021, he won the seat after defeating three-term Democratic First Selectman J. Christopher Kervick 1,672 to 1,444 — a margin of 228 votes. After the polls closed that night, Harrington said it was the first time in 25 years that Windsor Locks elected a Republican for the town's highest office of first selectman.
He served on the Board of Finance as a member for seven years and chairman for four, and on the Board of Selectmen for two years. Harrington will be teaming up on the Republican ballot with Selectman Scott Storms, a lawyer and former state representative for the 60th General Assembly District. Storms has been serving on the Board of Selectmen for four years.
One of Harrington's goals for his upcoming term is to continue down the path of bipartisanship. "We get more done together than we do when we're apart."
He said the community realizes that as evidenced by the fact that the three members of the Board of Selectmen are running unopposed.
Other goals Harrington has set include what he describes as longtime cans that have been kicked down the street, such seeing the new police station and senior center construction work begin in the fall, and infrastructure work on town roads and stormwater/sewer lines underneath them.
This year, Harrington said, he was able to unlock $5.6 million to address such projects, whereas the highest amount of money for road work has been about $2 million.
The Republican Town Committee also endorsed Lindsay Cutler for Board of Education, and Michael Ciarica, Daniel Flanagan, and Lacinda van Gieson for the Board of Finance. Zoning Board of Appeals candidates are James Cannon, Norman Weigert Jr., and Lori Quagliaroli as an alternate for the board.
"We are proud to once again have a strong set of candidates and volunteers who are an anchor to each corner of our town and will work for their neighbors to keep Windsor Locks growing," said Quagliaroli, chairwoman of the Republican Town Committee.
Democratic Town Committee chairwoman Peggy Sayers said her party looked for a candidate to run against Harrington but no one came forward. Serving on a town board or commission — and certainly as first selectman — is a huge time commitment, she said. "Young people, as much as they might like to serve their community, are busy working full time or going to school and don't yet have the time to serve."
Sayers said she is very proud of the Democratic slate of candidates that would bring "unique experience" and knowledge to their respective positions if elected.
For the Board of Selectmen, Democrats endorsed Jonathan Savino, who in December 2021 was nominated, and later approved by selectmen, to fill the vacancy left Kervick resigned.
Kervick, a Democrat, spent three terms as first selectman before being defeated by Harrington in November 2021. He did, however, earn enough votes to obtain a selectman's seat on the board but later left to work in the private sector as a lawyer.
Savino, a lifelong resident of Windsor Locks, has worked for airline operations and, according to the Democratic Town Committee, is well-versed in providing logistical support to Bradley International Airport. "With the continued focus on Windsor Locks growing to be a transportation hub, this is a vital skill to have working for the town," the Democratic Town Committee members said of his nomination.
The Democrats also endorsed Alba Osorio for the Board of Education and Con O'Leary, Mark Whitten, and Andrew Kulas for the Board of Finance. Zoning Board of Appeals candidates are Bill Hamel and Cindy Cooper as an alternate for the board. Cooper is also on the slate for town treasurer.
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