Locals React to Failure of School Rebuilding Proposal

A sign advocating a 'no' vote on the referendum at DePaolo. PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTO

A clear majority of Southington residents voted ‘no’ on a referendum question that would have led to the closure of Flanders Elementary School, the rebuilding of Kelley and the expansion of South End.

Official results show that there were 10,531 ‘no’ votes to 9,432 ‘yes’ votes.

The precincts with the highest number of ‘yes’ votes were the polling stations at Kelley and Oshana Elementary Schools. The other polling stations all reported more ‘no’ than ‘yes’ votes.

One factor behind the ‘no’ votes may have been the price tag included in the referendum question. “Shall the town of Southington appropriate $86,675,560 for costs related to the Elementary Facilities Plan, including a new Kelley Elementary School, a fit out of the South End Elementary School, and closing Flanders Elementary School and repurposing the building and property for municipal and community use, and authorize the issue of $86,675,560 bonds and notes to finance the appropriation?” read the text of the question on this year’s ballot.

Seth Korn, a parent of two Kelley students, was disappointed by the results, but said he hopes the community can find ways to unite and prioritize the best interests of local students.

“While yesterday’s referendum outcome wasn't what we hoped for, we ask our entire community and leadership to remain focused and engaged in the process to ensure our students, educators, and families have safe, modern and equitable places to learn,” said Korn.

Megan Mele, who had advocated for a ‘yes’ vote, likewise urged the community to move forward together. “While I am naturally disappointed in the outcome of the Southington Elementary School referendum,” she wrote, “I hold deep respect for the democratic process and the collective decision of our town. More than ever, it is imperative we engage in focused, constructive, and urgent dialogue to identify a viable path forward without unnecessary delay. Ultimately, our shared priority and responsibility remain unchanged – ensuring all Southington children have the opportunity to learn in safe, modernized educational spaces. I remain optimistic that we can find a solution that moves our community forward with unity.”

Annie Wellington, another supporter of the proposal, expressed frustration with the way the campaign played out. “Going into Election Day," she wrote, "I was hopeful for the referendum vote because it was an opportunity for Southington voters to invest in the future of our schools and our students. As the election results were published Wednesday morning, it was disappointing to see that this town did not support the needs of our schools. Instead, the emotional, nostalgic pleas alongside the frustration with reevaluation... were used against the smallest residents in our community. What will it take for our schools to be a priority?  How much needs to be invested in aged, decrepit infrastructure in our school system before we realize this is an ongoing money pit?  How do we look at the students who are in Kelley and Flanders and tell them they don’t deserve a modernized facility like their peers?”

Shama Greene is a local parent and educator who had been active in encouraging Southington to vote against the referendum. She said the result of the election should be taken as a sign that the community should be more involved in the decision-making regarding schools, and taxpayers should be more educated about a plan that uses their money.

“I'm encouraged by the outcome, and I hope our elected officials see this as an opportunity, not a setback,” said Greene. “A ‘no’ vote doesn't mean we don't want our schools improved. It means we want to take another look, explore the options, and develop a plan that works for the entire district. I hope the community will now have a meaningful seat at the table and that we can move forward together with transparency, better communication, and a complete financial picture. Our kids deserve great schools, and taxpayers deserve a plan they can feel confident supporting."

Town officials and administrators, who had been nearly unanimous in their support for the proposal, expressed determination to move forward. Superintendent Steve Madancy wrote that “our responsibility to our students and community remains unchanged. While the voters have spoken on this specific plan, the challenges facing our aging facilities and the need for modern, safe learning environments have not vanished. We listen, we respect the voice of taxpayers, and we will take this feedback to re-evaluate our path forward together.”

Town Council Chair Paul Chaplinsky played a key role in getting the Republican caucus to support the project. He said any future plans regarding remodeling schools will be up to the Board of Education.

“The residents' voices were heard, and the elected boards will need to find alternate proposals to address the pressing capital needs of the schools and the students. The Board of Education will need to lead this and determine what the next steps are after the failed referendum, if any,” said Chaplinsky.

Board of Education member Colleen Clark also expressed a mix of disappointment and determination: “Having worked on this issue for many years, I am personally disappointed on the voting results. But seeing as the voters have spoken, I’m willing to start work again towards finding solutions that will address our facilities issues for now and in the future.”

Both Parties Celebrate Incumbent Wins

Rep. Poulos addresses Democrats at Anthony Jack's Tuesday night; Republicans gather at Smoke & Muddle AVERY MARTIN PHOTOS

Southington voters are sending Chris Poulos and Rebecca Martinez back to Hartford to represent the 81st and 22nd districts, in a victory for town Democrats, while Republican incumbents Gale Mastrofrancesco, Donna Veach and Rob Sampson also held onto their positions, bucking nationwide trends that favored Democrats.

Both sides found reasons to celebrate on Tuesday night. Poulos, the incumbent Democrat, defeated his opponent, Republican Tim Wilk, 6,351 to 4,655. Martinez won with 5,398 votes, while her challenger Richard Mette had 4,336.

In the 80th district, Cheryl Hilton lost to incumbent Gale Mastrofrancesco, 4,115 to 6,282 votes. In the 30th, incumbent Republican Donna Veach bested Linda Pierce 5,495 to 5,065.

The state senate district that includes Southington, the 16th, went to Republican incumbent Rob Sampson in a tight race against Jack Perry. The final tally in that race came in at 20,458 for Sampson to 19,952 for Perry.

Sampson, Wilk, and town Republicans gathered at Smoke & Muddle Tuesday night, while Democrats assembled down the street at Anthony Jack’s to await results. The race was called for Poulos around 10 pm, when results obtained by both parties showed him defeating Wilk.

The mood among Republicans was upbeat, despite their loss in the gubernatorial race early in the night, as attendees watched results come in for Veach, Mastrofranceso and Sampson.

“Looking more broadly, the people spoke and for those who don’t like the results of the election, stand up and get involved,” said town council chairman Paul Chaplinsky.

The crowd at Anthony Jack’s, which was filled out by more than a dozen members of the high school’s Young Democrats club, turned jubilant when Poulos arrived to thank his family and supporters for helping him secure the victory.

“This campaign is about the people,” Poulos said in his victory speech on Tuesday night.

“It's not about the party. It's been about the 8,107 doors I knocked, what they tell me they want and what I will continue to fight for. I will never, never back down from that mandate of the people of Southington, and I will continue to fight for people who want a fair shot in society, not a free shot, a fair shot, a shot at raising a family, a shot at having a good job, a shot at sending your kids to college and not going into debt, a shot at retiring with dignity. This is what my campaign is about.”

Wilk later conceded to Poulos and wished his opponent well.

“This has been quite a journey and a real growth experience. What I’ll remember most are the conversations and the people who invited me into their homes. It’s been validating to know that 30 years of hard work and sacrifice for this community didn’t go unnoticed,” read a statement from Wilk on social media.

Southington’s Democratic Party officials were encouraged by the results of the race. It is a testimony, they said, to just how hard Poulos worked to get re-elected to his third term, with the 1,696 vote winning margin a sign that a ‘blue wave’ can reach even the most conservative districts in the state.  

“Chris Poulos has won overwhelmingly. What it says to Southington Democrats: we are moving forward, and we're going to win next year,” said Poulos’ campaign manager John Barry. “And we're going to have people like Jack Perry and Chris Poulos behind us to help us win.”

Town Council Candidate Questionnaire, Answer #1

PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTO

As a service to our readers we will be republishing the replies to our Town Council Candidate Questionnaire question by question, one every day for the next eight days. This was the first query:

If elected to Southington’s Town Council, what relevant experiences, skills, and/or interests would you bring to it?

The replies - ordered by candidate last name - were as follows:

Paul Chaplinsky (R)

I have served Southington for the past six years on the Town Council, including the last two as Chairman. Before that, I served for 11 years on the Planning and Zoning Commission, where I also held the role of Vice Chairman. Professionally, I’ve built my career in engineering, product development, innovation management, and new business models—many of those positions at the executive level. I have served on the Board of Directors for the Mill Foundation for Kids (a local non profit providing support to children and their families with serious illnesses) and Charter Oak State College Foundation, serving single moms and others in need through financial support for a college education. This combination of municipal and volunteer leadership and executive management experience has given me a strong foundation in strategy, collaboration, and fiscal responsibility—skills I bring to the Town Council every day.

Jennifer Clock (R)

I have held a Vice President role in a national auditing firm for several years and hold an MBA with a focus in strategy and leadership. In addition to building teams, navigating staffing challenges and running daily operations, I’ve spent my career creating efficiency inside of a growing business. Most notably, I was able to navigate operations during one of the most difficult times, COVID19 without disruption and continue building our bottom line.

During this time and in my service to the town, I’ve been able to display levelheaded leadership. I can listen to all sides and collaborate with my colleagues to create actionable solutions for difficult situations. I take pride in assessing processes and improving them to create efficiency while maintaining a positive working environment.

Michael DelSanto (R)

I have been an elected official in Southington for the last 24 years. I have developed extensive experience and a deep commitment to the Southington community. My service began with the Southington Planning and Zoning Commission, where I was a member from 2001 to 2019 and held the position of Chairman from 2009 to 2019. In 2019, I was elected to the Southington Town Council and am currently seeking my fourth term. My involvement with the Economic Strike Committee has spanned 14 years, including the past six years as Chairman. During the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic, I chaired the Southington Long Term Recovery Committee from 2020 to 2021, which was established to help the town rebuild during and after the shutdowns. Since 2019, I have also served as Chairman of the Public Works Committee. As a lifelong resident of Southington, my dedication to serving the community is unwavering and I am proud of the loyalty I have demonstrated through my years of public service.

George Doherty (D)

I have lived in Connecticut for most of my life, growing up in Wilton, and graduating from UConn with degrees in Finance and Political Science. My only two years living outside the state were when I was getting an MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. I have lived in Southington for over 24 years, and both of my children are graduates of Southington High School. In addition to my professional activities, I have volunteered for years with youth basketball, both as a coach for both girls and boys town league, travel and AAU teams, and currently as President of the Nutmeg Basketball Association, the primary travel league for Hartford County, in which Southington’s 4^th through 8^th grade boys and girls teams play.

I am also a small business owner, running a private equity firm that invests in small, emerging software companies. I have 25+ years of experience in finance and technology. I have helped build multiple successful technology companies, and have extensive experience in capital markets, finance and business that I believe are directly relevant to Town Council.

Charles E. Green, Jr. (D)

To begin, I hold an undergraduate degree in Political Science, a graduate degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctor degree in Law and consider myself a public servant. I am a practicing criminal defense attorney, helping low-income individuals fight for their rights and freedom afforded to them. In the 18 years that I have practiced criminal defense law, I have developed the following skills: art of communication, art of negotiation, art of Trial preparation/litigation, budget/financial management, community activism and most importantly public service. I am a current member of the Connecticut Commission on racial profiling that helps create and implement policy as it relates to combatting racial profiling in our Great State. To add I belong to many civic and community groups to have either a managing entity or board of directors that governs it, where I am a part of and work alongside and with them. If elected, I will bring leadership that is based upon compassion, active listening, empathy, a positive attitude, a sense of determination, excitement and engagement, resiliency and support. Let’s keep mindful and not forget, a public servant is an individual who holds a government job, whether elected or appointed, to serve the public’s interests.

Shawn Grindle (D)

As a teacher, union leader, and long time community advocate, I bring experience in collaboration, communication, and problem-solving that directly transitions to public service. In my role as Political Action and Public Relations Chair for the Southington Education Association, I’ve built relationships with local and state leaders, coordinated grassroots advocacy, and led campaigns to engage various communities around education and labor issues.

My professional background also includes 15 years in media operations, where I managed complex projects and learned how to find practical, timely solutions under intense deadlines; skills that are essential in local government.

As an educator, I see firsthand how decisions affect families, schools, and neighborhoods. I believe in transparency, financial responsibility, and making sure every decision serves the people who call Southington home. My goal is to bring an educators heart, a communicator’s skill set, and a community advocate’s drive to the Town Council.

Kristen Marie Guida (D)

If elected to Southington’s Town Council, I would bring years of leadership experience in healthcare, education, and public service. As Director of Nursing at CT State Capital and a practicing nurse practitioner, I understand teamwork, fiscal responsibility, and evidence-based decision-making. I’ve served as Past President of STEPS and CTAPRNS, on the Southington Library Board, and as an alternate on both the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning & Zoning Commission. I am civic-minded, deeply invested in our town, and eager to help Southington continue to flourish. My volunteer work in Haiti reinforced my belief in service, compassion, and the importance of community partnerships.

Jim Morelli (R)

I bring 6 years of previous Town Council experience and a lifelong love of Southington. I have a manufacturing, building – construction, and sales experience along with an 8-year career in emergency medical response. I have a well-rounded knowledge of many of the issues that face us in a growing thriving community, and I am proud and honored to serve you.

Tony Morrison (R)

I have run $100 Million business units in High Tech companies on three different continents, and so I have significant management, organization and financial skills. I have served Southington for the last eight years with three terms on the BOF and one term on Council. In addition, I have served on numerous committees such as Self-Insurance, Open Space, Economic Strike and Ordinance, as well as being Chair of Transportation, America250, and Sewer. My main reasons in serving Southington in these capacities is my love for the Town and my belief that if you want to improve the world you need to sweep your own doorstep first.

Chris Palmieri (D)

I am a lifelong Southington resident and am very excited about the opportunity to run for re-election to the Town Council. I was previously elected as a member of the Southington Library Board of Directors and Southington’s Board of Water Commissioners.  I currently serve on several town committees including the Apple Harvest Festival Advisory Committee, the Open Space Committee, and the Economic Strike Committee.  Last term I also served on the Ordinance Review Committee and the Public Works Committee. I previously served as the Chairman of the Town Council as well as the Minority Leader. I also previously served as the vice chairman of the Public Building Committee for Kennedy and DePaolo Middle Schools.  I graduated from the University of RI with a BS degree in Business Administrations and also earned my Master's Degree and Professional Degree in School Administration from Sacred Heart University.  As the Principal of DePaolo Middle School, I am extremely proud to serve as an educator in Southington. 

Joshua Serafino (R)

As a lifelong Southington resident, small business owner, husband, and father, I bring practical experience and a deep understanding of our community’s needs. I founded Lock N Load Firearms, a local business that has grown into one of Connecticut’s highest-rated training centers and retail shops. Operating a business in town has provided me with firsthand experience in budgeting, customer service, and navigating local, state, and federal regulations. These are similar challenges that Southington residents and business owners face every day. I’m also deeply involved in our community and understand the importance of keeping Southington a safe, affordable, and family oriented town. I want to bring a strong, common sense voice to the council, focused on problem solving, fiscal responsibility, and protecting the hometown values that make Southington such a great place to live and raise a family.

David Zoni (D)

I have been serving the public in many capacities for many years. I was a member of the Southington Town Council for 4 years and a member of the Connecticut General Assembly as State Representative of the 81^st District for 4 years. I’ve also been engaged in several Southington service and fraternal organizations, holding leadership positions. In my career, I’ve had the opportunity to serve in a managerial position in the corporate world, working for a company with over 1,000 employees, manufacturing high-tech medical equipment. Additionally, I’ve spent over 35 years owning and operating my own small business. As a lifelong resident and former State Representative, I feel I have a unique and clear understanding of Southington’s residents, their needs, their desires, and their concerns. I am fully prepared to continue serving Southington: the community I love and respect.