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Old 07-13-2018, 01:35 PM
 
7,925 posts, read 7,818,729 times
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While I can understand party officials inspecting independently of government this is very odd.

Ridgefield CT is mandating their town clerk be a registered Republican

https://www.ridgefieldct.org/sites/r..._july-2018.pdf

I can understand the position being elected and obviously from that you have to be a resident to run. However, the requirement for a political party undermines the apolitical process.
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Old 07-13-2018, 01:59 PM
 
Location: Northern Fairfield Co.
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It's because the current Town Clerk just recently resigned and she was a Republican. An interim Town Clerk will replace her until the next election (Town Clerks are elected officials/not hired). The town charter holds that interim appointments have the same party affiliation as the person they are replacing. Ridgefield residents elected a Republican Town Clerk last year, and so they will keep a Republican Town Clerk until the next election in 2019.
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Old 07-13-2018, 03:40 PM
 
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Right but local government isn't supposed to have part affiliations outside of mayors. There is no Democrat or Republican way of running a town clerk office. It is supposed to be apolitical.
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Old 07-13-2018, 04:42 PM
 
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,585 posts, read 81,206,701 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mdovell View Post
Right but local government isn't supposed to have part affiliations outside of mayors. There is no Democrat or Republican way of running a town clerk office. It is supposed to be apolitical.
That would depend on the town/city charter. Like a state constitution is is a legal document and specifies which positions are elected, appointed, or hired by civil service process. Town clerk, like city manager and other posts can be elected, and therefore subject to party affiliation when replaced on an interim basis.
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Old 07-13-2018, 04:50 PM
 
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I looked at joining a Historic Commission a few years ago (volunteer) and was told I'd have to be a Democrat. Independent wouldn't cut it. I looked and sure enough, all the people listed on their site were listed with their affiliations of Democrat.
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Old 07-13-2018, 04:52 PM
 
Location: Northern Fairfield Co.
2,918 posts, read 3,231,797 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mdovell View Post
Right but local government isn't supposed to have part affiliations outside of mayors. There is no Democrat or Republican way of running a town clerk office. It is supposed to be apolitical.
No, that is completely wrong. The current Town Clerk in Ridgefield who just resigned earlier this month, ran and won as a Republican candidate this past November. She resigned a couple of weeks ago, with an effective date of August 31st. The town now has to interview interim replacements for her position (and has to limit the pool to Republican candidates for the position) until the next municipal election in 2019.

If a Democrat currently held the position of Town Clerk in Ridgefield, then you would see a job posting limited to registered Democrat candidates only.

It’s just how it works per the Town of Ridgefield Charter (and pretty sure most other CT Town Charters ...)

The people of Ridgefield elected a Republican for that position this past November, and they will get a Republican for the full two-year term. Period.
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Old 07-14-2018, 11:39 AM
 
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Right but many other communities don't have local elections by party. What value do parties add?

It is a disservice to public funds to limit competition.
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Old 07-14-2018, 12:17 PM
 
Location: Connecticut
34,939 posts, read 56,958,583 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mdovell View Post
Right but many other communities don't have local elections by party. What value do parties add?

It is a disservice to public funds to limit competition.
I am not sure why you do not understand this. Just like any other elected official that resigns while in office, the replacement is always of the same political affiliation as the person they replace. That is just how the system works everywhere in our country. Jay

https://www.theridgefieldpress.com/1...ill-step-down/
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Old 07-15-2018, 12:47 PM
 
Location: Aurora Denveralis
8,712 posts, read 6,762,273 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mdovell View Post
Right but many other communities don't have local elections by party. What value do parties add?
At the town/local level? An excuse for twice as many committees and some fun squabbling every two years.

Quote:
It is a disservice to public funds to limit competition.
If you're concerned about governance costs, start agitating against CT's antiquated, absurd and dysfunctional town-by-town system. Duplicating every civic function every five miles is horribly wasteful and ensures that most positions are filled by amateurs and unsuitables.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JayCT View Post
I am not sure why you do not understand this. Just like any other elected official that resigns while in office, the replacement is always of the same political affiliation as the person they replace. That is just how the system works everywhere in our country.
Well, except in those places where generic civic/management/operations offices aren't filled on a party basis. The point has been made that it's pretty stupid to make "functional" offices party-based.
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Old 07-15-2018, 01:48 PM
 
Location: Connecticut
34,939 posts, read 56,958,583 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Quietude View Post
Well, except in those places where generic civic/management/operations offices aren't filled on a party basis. The point has been made that it's pretty stupid to make "functional" offices party-based.
This is an elected position not an office job. By law you can’t ask a person their political affiliation for a regular job but for an elected position replacement you can. Jay
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