Many New Faces as GOP Endorses November Slate, With Video

The Middletown Republican Town Committee endorsed three newcomers to Common Council Monday in announcing its slate of candidates for the November election.

New names on the ballot are: payroll/pension supervisor and vice president of Local 466 Linda Salafia; director of public relations/media at the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, Matthew Fraulino; and chair of the Senior Services Commission, Edward Dypa.

"This is a great group of candidates who will help Mayor Giuliano's effort to keep Middletown moving in the right direction," said RTC Chairman Matt Scarrozzo. "Middletown needs leaders who are willing to make the correct decisions based on value and merit. Voters will see the difference this fall as Republicans make their case."

They joined incumbent Republicans Deputy Mayor Joseph E. Bibisi, Council members David Bauer, Phil Pessina and Deborah Kleckowski and former Councilman Earle Roberts, all vying for seats. Roberts was not nominated by the GOP in 2009 and ran unsuccessfully as an independent.

"Victory is within our reach if we have the strength to pursue it and the courage to accept it when it comes," Mayor Sebastian Giuliano said. "We will achieve it because our hearts are in the right place. We will as we always have, place the interest of our citizens before our own political fortunes.

"Last Thursday, I asked if you were with me in this effort. Tonight I ask you, 'are you with us?'"

Ryan Kennedy of the RTC Nominating Committee, read off the list of endorsed candidates:

• Board of Education: Callie Grippo, Cheryl McClellan, Kevin Kelly, Alexander Mac Levin and Tami Kapacziewski.
• Planning and Zoning: William Gregori, Kenneth McClellan, Molly Salafia and Fred Terasi.
• Ronald Borrelli and Corrine Dorsey, alternates to the Planning and Zoning Commission, and Laura Gionfriddo and William Wilson, candidates for the Board of Assessment Appeals.
• Jonathan Pulino, candidate for city treasurer.

One suprise came near the end of the evening, when Giuliano thanked a P&Z member for her years of service. "I'd like to recognize one member of Planning and Zoning here tonight, Catherine Johnson, who is not seeking re-election."

At that announcement, Johnson, who has served on P&Z since 2007, stood up, expressing surprise and disappointment. "I didn't know, literally, until tonight," to which the mayor replied she had failed to turn in her signed re-election request letter.

Johnson said she'd still be willing to be considered for P&Z if anything changed.

Pessina assured newcomers that members of the party will be working with them to ease the transition into caucus season, to assure their election in November.

"So Seb will have a Republican majority in the Common Council," Pessina said.

New to politics, Fraulino said living in Middletown his entire life has given him a sense of what's important for the city's future.

"With my lifelong residency of 28 years, I have a gauge of what the city needs to move forward. I’d like to steer the ship in the direction the mayor has taken it.

"I have the ability to identify with multiple constituent groups. I went through the public school system, which is very diverse, and UConn," Fraulino explained.

In other news, committee member Derek Phelps encouraged others to distribute donation envelopes around town. Phelps acknowledged that although Republicans have raised more money for the campaign, the Democrats have a slight edge in the number of donations at last count.

"One check could be from Jane Doe and the other one from John Doe," Phelps explained.

Read about the Republican platform here.

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