Meriden GOP Will Hold Nominating Convention Tonight

Meriden's Republican Town Committee will hold its nominating convention Wednesday night to pick its official candidates for the city's upcoming November elections.

The convention will be held at 7 p.m. at the Four Points Sheraton at 275 Research Parkway, as part of the Committee's monthly meeting.

Members will choose who the party will back for a number of influential city positions. Come November 8, Meriden residents will be voting for Mayor, City Clerk, six City Councilor spots, and four Board of Education seats.

The loss of two longtime incumbent Democrats on the City Council could give Republicans a shot at greater representation on the town governing body, says City Councilor Dan Brunet (R-3), who is also the Republican Town Committe Chair.

Councilors George McGoldrick (D) and Keith Gordon (D), of Areas 1 and 4 respectively, again. "Very rarely do you lose two key positions like that in the same year," Brunet said.

Currently Brunet is the only Republican on Meriden's 12-seat City Council. The right-leaning independent "We the People" Party has two city council members, Walter Shamock and Bob Williams, and the remaining nine councilors are Democrats. 

Town Democrats are planning a convention of their own for next week. Both parties have to formally submit their candidate selections to the state by July 26.

Reached by phone Wednesday afternoon, Brunet said the party was still talking to people interested in running for various spots. Those who have formally declared interest in being a Republican candidate this November, according to Brunet, are:

For City Clerk

Irene Masse (Incumbent)

For City Council

Area 1 - Al Pronovost

Area 2 - Joshua Broekstra

Area 3 - Art Peitler

Area 4 - Liz Whitney and Andrew Piatek

At Large - Kevin Scarpati

For Board of Education

Rob Kosienski (Incumbent)