RTC Caucus Roundup

Town Republicans are gearing up for the RTC caucuses, to be held the second week of January. The time is 7:30pm Tuesday January 11th, and every registered Republican is eligible to attend the caucus is his district.

Expect less controversy then at the last two caucuses. Across the board, the RTC is much less contentious than in previous years.

The relative calmness is the result partly of burnout, and partly it is due to less unease among Conservatives at the direction of the party.

With the break-up of the clique (elected and unelected) that formerly ran the Board of Ed, and the election of former BET member Peter Crumbine (although some are concerned that he is erratic) as selectman, there is much less of a perception of a small clique of liberal/apolitical insiders running the town behind closed doors.

The recent problems on the BET, however, may bring back some of the old tensions.

The Breakdown:
District 1: Compromise probable

District 2: All out war- Janice Gardiner and Dick Kriskey will never, ever, accept one another. Advantage: Gardner

District 3: No meaningful change

District 4: With the unfortunate passing of June Curley, an RTC favorite, there is an open seat. Look for Steve Walko to work hard to fill it with an equally fair-minded individual.

District 5: Donahue and Torentino are leaving, and it is expected that the powers that be will push the candidacies of Sam Telerico and John Raben. This continues a recent trend seen in the RTC in which the hardworking party faithful are passed over in favor of the smooth operators. Sam didn't participate in party support activities at all, until he stepped forward two years ago in an effort to win the party's nomination for a well-paying political plum (i.e. the tax collector's job.) And John Raben served as a DEMOCRAT member of the BET, from which poistion it is presumably hard to earn the reputation as a party stalwart. Nevertheless, this is exactly the type of pair that will sell well in Riverside. Thus there will be no real competition for seats in this district.

District 6: Most likely no meaningful challenge, although the powers that be are not happy with the independence of some of the members. The only person who can mount a formidable challenge is Kay Wall, but she is unlikely to do so. This district's powerful boss, Probate Judge David Tobin has effectively propogated the cheery notion that he and his cohorts seek a "unified" party.

District 7: Not usually a hot-button district, however establishment Republicans are upset with the results of the last caucus, and may make a push here.

District 8: Non-establishment republicans lost district 8 last year as Sally Mackenzie and Carol Frano feuded with each other, breaking up their former coalition. While there may be challenges, the makeup with the district will likely stay the same

District 9: No meaningful changes.

District 10: Bill Nickerson's district. The only one who can possibly make inroads against the current RTC members is Joan Caldwell, but in recent years she has seemed increasingly disinclined to lower herself.

District 11: Could be a real problem for the establishment, however, look for upstarts to accept a compromise rather than fight, even though they have the advantage.

District 12: Armageddon!!, as always. Romeos vs. Camillo and Corrado. Camillo and Corrado each won a seat last time, despite a poorly run campaign. If they get their act together, they could topple Romeo. A big question is whether the establishment will take sides. They have tried to topple Romeo for years, to no avail. Now with all of Romeo's ex-freinds running against him, Romeo could be in deep trouble if the Establishment works against him. However, the establishment is often petty and vindictive, and will lets this once-in-a liftime opportunity pass due to their anger at Corrado for exposing Tom Ragland's trouble with Betty Link(even though Paula was 100% correct). Potential Romeo Slayer, and all-around good guy Chris Harriss will sit this one out again, to the dismay above jsut about everybody(except Romeo). Romeo's incumbency and control of the caucus is a huge plus for him. Prediction: Same five re-elected.

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