Record-Journal
11-19-2007, 10:28 PM
WALLINGFORD -- As Democrats prepare to regain majority control of the Town Council in January, two highly visible Democrats — thwarted mayoral challenger James Vumbaco and Registrar of Voters Barbara Kapi — are seeking the position of town clerk.
Both indicated to Democratic Town Committee leaders interest in becoming town clerk, a full-time position that pays roughly $60,000 a year.
The Democratic Town Committee will vote concerning the future clerk at its Dec. 12 meeting. While the committee only makes a recommendation,
Town Council majorities in recent history have followed their parties’ recommendations for the clerk post.
Vumbaco, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor this year and two years ago, said he decided to seek the clerk position a few days after his defeat at the Nov. 6 election.
“I took a few days off after the election and I started thinking about ways I can still help within the community,” Vumbaco said.
“I wanted to maintain some service to the community and I thought this would be a good position to do it. … I said this job or position is sort of tailor-made for me.”
Vumbaco said his six years on the Town Council have given him extensive knowledge of local government that he can apply to the job. Vumbaco was council chairman for two of the six years.
He added that his experience as an accountant and his current work as a financial consultant would aid him as a department head during the budget process.
Vumbaco said he would be able to work with Republican Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr., citing his bipartisan leadership of the Town Council.
Kapi, the Democratic registrar since January, said she would like to work with a larger cross-section of the public by becoming town clerk.
“I feel that I deal with the public very effectively and I would just like to try a new challenge,” she said.
Kapi said she proved herself skillful as registrar and has established herself among Town Hall employees.
She also wants a job with better compensation, she said. The registrar’s position is considered part-time and pays $25,000 a year, though Kapi said she works nearly full-time as registrar — 30 to 35 hours a week, she said.
Kapi unsuccessfully sought the town clerk position in December 2003. The town committee instead recommended Kathryn Zandri by a 45-38 margin. Zandri served from early 2004 to early 2006, when Republican Barbara Thompson took over.
Prior to becoming registrar, Kapi worked as a manufacturer’s representative selling women’s sportswear to retail outlets.
While Vumbaco and Kapi are the only two to formally indicate interest, anyone can come forward and nominations can even be made from the floor at the Dec. 12 meeting, said Democratic Town Chairman William Fischer.
Democratic Party leaders are not endorsing either candidate.
“We’ll see who the town committee votes for,” Fischer said. “It’s up to the members.”
“It’s the town committee’s choice,” said party Vice Chairman Vincent Avallone.
“It’s not a leadership decision.”
While they may be vying for the same position, Kapi and Vumbaco are friends. Kapi described herself as “a great supporter of Jimmy.”
Both candidates said their friendship should not prevent them from putting their names up for consideration.
Thompson, the current town clerk, was not available for comment.
Both indicated to Democratic Town Committee leaders interest in becoming town clerk, a full-time position that pays roughly $60,000 a year.
The Democratic Town Committee will vote concerning the future clerk at its Dec. 12 meeting. While the committee only makes a recommendation,
Town Council majorities in recent history have followed their parties’ recommendations for the clerk post.
Vumbaco, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor this year and two years ago, said he decided to seek the clerk position a few days after his defeat at the Nov. 6 election.
“I took a few days off after the election and I started thinking about ways I can still help within the community,” Vumbaco said.
“I wanted to maintain some service to the community and I thought this would be a good position to do it. … I said this job or position is sort of tailor-made for me.”
Vumbaco said his six years on the Town Council have given him extensive knowledge of local government that he can apply to the job. Vumbaco was council chairman for two of the six years.
He added that his experience as an accountant and his current work as a financial consultant would aid him as a department head during the budget process.
Vumbaco said he would be able to work with Republican Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr., citing his bipartisan leadership of the Town Council.
Kapi, the Democratic registrar since January, said she would like to work with a larger cross-section of the public by becoming town clerk.
“I feel that I deal with the public very effectively and I would just like to try a new challenge,” she said.
Kapi said she proved herself skillful as registrar and has established herself among Town Hall employees.
She also wants a job with better compensation, she said. The registrar’s position is considered part-time and pays $25,000 a year, though Kapi said she works nearly full-time as registrar — 30 to 35 hours a week, she said.
Kapi unsuccessfully sought the town clerk position in December 2003. The town committee instead recommended Kathryn Zandri by a 45-38 margin. Zandri served from early 2004 to early 2006, when Republican Barbara Thompson took over.
Prior to becoming registrar, Kapi worked as a manufacturer’s representative selling women’s sportswear to retail outlets.
While Vumbaco and Kapi are the only two to formally indicate interest, anyone can come forward and nominations can even be made from the floor at the Dec. 12 meeting, said Democratic Town Chairman William Fischer.
Democratic Party leaders are not endorsing either candidate.
“We’ll see who the town committee votes for,” Fischer said. “It’s up to the members.”
“It’s the town committee’s choice,” said party Vice Chairman Vincent Avallone.
“It’s not a leadership decision.”
While they may be vying for the same position, Kapi and Vumbaco are friends. Kapi described herself as “a great supporter of Jimmy.”
Both candidates said their friendship should not prevent them from putting their names up for consideration.
Thompson, the current town clerk, was not available for comment.