John McKenna
Aug 27, 2021
Daniel Martineau, the Republican candidate for first selectman in Litchfield, speaks during the Republican candidate meet and greet at Community Field on Thursday.
Republican candidates seeking office in Litchfield in the Nov. 2 election gathered at Community Field on Thursday evening to meet the public and discuss issues facing the town.
Headlining the event was first selectman candidate Daniel Martineau, a retired state probation officer well-known for his service with Boy Scout Troop 29 in Bantam. Martineau is challenging First Selectman Denise Raap, a Democrat.
In comments to the crowd, Martineau, who has raised a family in town, said Litchfield is a quality place to live and that he wants to go to work to preserve the town’s character. Making the town more affordable for young people and families and giving them a voice in discussion of town issues would be among his priorities.
Reducing crime and speeding on town roads would be other priorities as would taking information from a traffic study the town conducted in conjunction with the state Department of Transportation and developing solutions to pedestrian safety problems in the center of town.
Martineau’s running mates for the Board of Selectmen are Selectman Jonathan Torrant and Christine Harding, owner of Toast & Co. The trio, if elected, Torrant said, would be far more transparent than Raap and her administration have been.
In Harding and Board of Finance candidate Patty Dauten, Martineau said, Republicans have candidates who understand small business and its importance to Litchfield and would work to help businesses get started.
Other candidates who spoke were Planning and Zoning Commission candidates Norman Sauer, Max McIntyre, John Cox and Guy Cunningham and Board of Education candidate Stephan Krucker.
State Rep. David T. Wilson, R-Litchfield, and state Rep. John Piscopo, R-Thomaston, addressed the gathering as did George Logan, a candidate for Congress in the 5th District, and Dominic Rapini, a candidate for secretary of the state.