First Selectwoman Denise Menard Leads Democratic Slate for November 8 Election

East Windsor Democrats Tuesday chose their slate of candidates for the November 8 municipal election during their nominating caucus.

Leading the slate is First Selectwoman Denise E. Menard, who is seeking her second  four-year term as the town’s chief executive.  The slate was approved unanimously by town committee members at the meeting in the Broad Brook Elementary School gym.

Menard was nominated by her husband Dave, who said she has worked in her first term to make East Windsor a good community. She helped standardize services, negotiated contracts, got grants for the town, and was instrumental in getting a new business to move to the industrial park, he said.

“Through her hard work East Windsor is on the right track,” Dave Menard said.

Denise Menard said she had just raised her hand to do a hard job when she originally ran for first selectman. She said the town is on the right track and has made it through the worst time financially in most people’s lifetimes.

“I’d be honored to accept the nomination to maybe go through a time that is not so tough,” Menard said.

Also running for the board of selectmen are Dale Nelson and Alan Baker.  Republicans currently hold a 3-2 majority on the board.

Jason Bowsza, chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, said he is excited about the lineup of candidates. He said if you ask anyone town who is the best person to run the town government they would say Denise Menard.

“She is head and shoulders above anyone else,” Bowsza said.

Rounding out the slate are: incumbent Jason Bowsza, Sharon Tripp and Dave King for the board of finance; Rich Covill, board of finance alternate; incumbent Leslie Hunt, George Michna, and Dave Menard for the board of education; incumbent Cliff Nelson and Ray Mancuso for police commission; Jose Giner for zoning board of appeals; Mike Ceppetelli and Nancy Masters for the board of assessment appeals; and Jeff Bancroft for constable.

Dale Nelson brings experience as a former selectman and board of finance member. Baker brings a fresh perspective plus his experience helping to organize river cleanup last fall as a member of the American Heritage River Commission.

Bowsza said the board of education candidates include two people with PhD’s in education; the board of finance candidates include his four years of experience and others with experience in business; and the candidate for the zoning board of appeals is the former town planner, and current director planning in another community.

The Republican Town Committee is holding its caucus on Monday.