Sen. Boucher Endorses Steve Obsitnik for U.S. Congress

“Steve Obsitnik has proven he has the resources," Boucher said.

Redding Air Force Vet Seeks To Challenge Himes

Richard Weiland is running to get the GOP nomination to challenge Congressman Jim Himes (D-4th) this November.

  A veteran of the Air Force who’s lived in Redding for over 35 years is seeking to unseat Congressman Jim Himes (D-4th) this fall. But he’s first got to grab the Republican nomination. Dick Wieland—a self-proclaimed “retired businessman, but not a retired citizen”— said he’s got administrative experience necessary to enact change in Washington. “I have a military, professional, business and citizen [experience] that has demonstrated sound judgment, [as well as] good decision-making aspects in all these fields,” Wieland told Patch. “I have a demonstrated ability to outline a plan, articulate the details and achieve supporter buy-in—otherwise known as leadership. I have the wherewithal and energy to confront Washington and make a change…

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From the Driver's Seat

Wilton's Got Me Begging Now—Please Vote!

What do I need to do to get you to turn out for this week's annual meeting and vote on the FY '13 town budget?

“Oops, I forgot to pay my mortgage. Oh well, I’ll just pay it next month.” “Shucks, I didn’t register for any classes this semester. I’ll just go where they tell me, even if the classes they give me have nothing to do with my major.” “Gee, I didn’t look up the address for my interview in the city. Well, I’ll just point the car south and let’s see if I can figure it out. Whatever.” Can’t imagine those words above ever coming out of your mouth? Trust yourself enough to be more responsible than to allow any of those situations above to happen to you? Well, try this one on for size and ask yourself—Would I ever say this: "Shoot, I forgot to vote on Wilton’s annual budget at this year’s Town Meeting. Oh well, I’ll just pay whatever taxes they …

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Romney Wins Wilton's 2012 Republican Primary

Mitt Romney captured 78 percent of a small voter turnout in Wilton.

Romney made a clean sweep for Connecticut's 2012 Presidential Primary yesterday, and Wilton voters helped him do so.  Of the 585 registered republican Wilton voters who turned out to cast their ballot in yesterday’s primary, Mitt Romney won in a landslide with 78 percent of votes. Newt Gingrich followed with 9 percent and Ron Paul came in third with 8 percent, leaving Rick Santorum—who actually resigned from the primary, but his name remained on the ballot—in last place with 5 percent. Two percent voted as uncommitted to any candidate. The data below is provided from Wilton’s town website.   Newt Gingrich Ron Paul Mitt Romney Rick Santorum Uncommitted Total votes 52 45 449 28 11   Number of registered voters: 4253 Number who voted: 585 …

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The Subtle Differences Between Meek, Obsitnik

Republican candidates for the CT's Fourth Congressional District, Chris Meek and Steve Obsitnik, are both vying to become the Party's choice to run against Rep. Jim Himes, a Democrat who has held the seat for the past two terms.

Republicans will go to the polls tomorrow to vote for their presidential candidate to face Barack Obama in November. But with Rick Santorum suspending his campaign (he's still on the ballot), and Newt Gringrich and Ron Paul considered long-shots, at best, Mitt Romney is now the "de facto" nominee for president for the GOP — thus turnout at the polls is expected to be low. Voters in the Fourth Congressional District are more interested in the outcome of the tight race between Republican candidates Chris Meek and Steve Obsitnik, who are both vying to become the Party's choice to run against Rep. Jim Himes, a Democrat who has held the House seat for the past two terms. Both men say they are the Party's best shot at defeating Himes, as they …

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Survey: McMahon Leads GOP Primary, Dems Still Win

A Quinnipiac poll breaks down the U.S. Senate race and Republican presidential primary.

A Quinnipiac University poll shows Linda McMahon leads former U.S. Rep Christopher Shays by a 51-42 margin, but falters against Democrats compared to her opponent. In the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, U.S. Rep. Christopher Murphy, D-5, leads with 37 of the vote, followed by former Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz with 25 percent and State Rep. William Tong with 4 percent. Polling results for possible November match-ups: “Congressman Christopher Shays has narrowed the gap with Linda McMahon from 15 points to 9 points.  The question is whether he can catch up by primary day, August 14,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz. “In general election matchups, Shays runs neck and neck with either Congressman …

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Dick Morris Endorses Shays for Senate [VIDEO]

Political analyst and campaign consultant Dick Morris, who has a home in Redding, has endorsed Chris Shays in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

Dick Morris, a nationally known political commentator and consultant with a home in Redding, today endorsed Chris Shays in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate and rejected Linda McMahon, saying she can't win. In a video posted to Shays' campaign website, Morris says, "I'm supporting Christopher Shays for United States Senate.  He was a congressman for Fairfield County and he’s a tremendous guy.  I've known him for more than a decade.  A strong, staunch fiscal conservative, he served on the budget committee in the House and worked on forcing a balanced budget." Morris said Linda McMahon has proven she can't win a general election in Connecticut.  "Anybody could have beaten Blumenthal, and certainly somebody who spent $50 million," Morris said …

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Good-Willed Wiltonians Raise Money With Santa

Combining efforts to organize a Santa Portrait Fundraiser, local business owners raise money for Wilton's most needy families.

On the 22nd day before Christmas, some Wilton businesses gave to us, an amazing show of spirit for the community! While that line may not have the melody or exact rhythm of the original Christmas carol, it certainly captures the harmony of a handful of local small business owners who together staged a holiday fundraiser for needy Wilton families. Their combined efforts on Dec. 3 for a “Santa Portrait Fundraiser,” raised more than $900 for the Wilton Interfaith Secret Santa Fund, part of Wilton Social Services. The idea was sparked back in September—Megan Abrahamson, owner of Blue Star Bazaar was holding a trunk show at the popular Wilton café, Babycat Milkbar, and she was trying to brainstorm a holiday fundraiser with Babycat owner Jeena …

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Mandated Audits Cost Wilton, Not State

The town budgets for state-mandated audits, which come at the expense of Wilton taxpayers.

Last week’s town voting audit went off without a hitch, but interestingly, that state-required audit was at cost to the town. The cost will be “approximately under $800,” said Carol Young-Kleinfel of the Wilton Registrar of Voters and Elections Department. This money is used to pay Wilton’s municipal workers involved in evaluating the audit. The town budgets for one audit a year since 2006, the year that optical-scan voting machines were used. During that year, 26 towns in Connecticut were audited but also reimbursed thanks to the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). However, HAVA does not guarantee reimbursement. “We’re not planning on being reimbursed this year,” said Young-Kleinfeld. However, it’s possible that Wilton could be audited twice in…

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Write-in Votes Increased by 92 [Updated]

Election officials noticed an uptick in the number of write-in votes from years past.

Update, 3:30 p.m. This afternoon, Wilton's Registars Office released the number of blank and write-in votes for the First Selectman position which were cast during last night's election: Year Total # of votes for First Selectman Total # of blank votes Total # of write-in votes 2011 1955 666 131 2009 3227* 851 39 2007 1688 497 40 “*2009 includes approximately 800 hand-counted ballots (no machine tape). Number of blanks or write-ins [for those 800 ballots are] not available.” While more people voted in 2009, there were 92 more write-ins this year. In 2011, about 34-percent of voters left their votes for first selectman blank. Roughly 6.8-percent of voters cast a write-in vote.  in 2009, roughly 26-percent of voters left their ballots blank …

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