Community Corner

GOP Begins Search For Scarpati's Board of Education Replacement

The newly elected City Councilor will have to resign his seat on the Board of Education by Dec. 5, according to Meriden's Republican party chair.

The election of 22-year-old Kevin Scarpati (R) Tuesday night – who, along with incumbent Walter Shamock (W) netted the seat of At-Large City Councilor – leaves Meriden Republicans with a spot to fill on the city's Board of Education.

The party is now looking for someone to serve out the two years left in Scarpati's 4-year term. Scarpati, in Tuesday's 4-candidate race, will have to resign his position with the City Clerk and Board of Education President before he is sworn in to the council on Dec. 5, said Republican Town Committee Chair Daniel Brunet on Thursday.

"I'm going to get input from Republican Board of Education Members, and have everybody who's interested put in for the position," Brunet said. "At this point there are no individuals in mind that jump right out."

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Bill Godburn will not be considered, Brunet said. Godburn, part of the Republican Town Committee, ran for the Board of Education in this election with the We The People Party, and lost.

There is no specific set of rules as to when the appointment has to happen, according to Brunet. The only rule is that the candidate be a registered Republican. On the newly elected board there will be six Democrats and three Republicans, the same amount of each as the previous year.

Find out what's happening in Meridenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As for who he thinks should replace him, Scarpati said he'd like to see someone chosen who has a great love for Meriden schools who will work well with the other members.

"The Board of Education currently has a very strong relationship between all board members. I would like to see that continue, with not only the newly elected members, but also whoever is appointed," he said by e-mail Thursday.


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