Applicant for Open BOS Seat Says 1st Selectman Dissuaded His Participation

Following complaints by two Board of Selectmen members that First Selectman Toni Boucher sought to hijack the process of filling a vacant seat on the board, one applicant for the position confirmed that he withdrew from consideration because Boucher told him she favored another candidate — and that her vote would be the deciding factor.

After hearing the matter discussed at the Tuesday evening, July 22 BOS meeting, Boucher’s second-choice applicant, Democrat John “Jack” Suchy, sent a letter to all four current members of the Board of Selectmen on Thursday, July 24, to clarify his experience with the vetting process. [Editor’s note: Suchy also sent the letter to GMW after being asked to comment about the BOS meeting.]

During the meeting the selectmen had clashed about the process of appointing someone to fill an open seat on their board created by the departure of Bas Nabulsi.

Second Selectman Josh Cole and Selectwoman Kim Healy maintain that Boucher omitted BOS members from the process and, instead, met on her own with other candidates and potentially dissuaded some from being considered prior to meeting with the BOS.

Suchy’s letter appears to confirm that belief.

Suchy had submitted his name and resume to the BOS, but rather than bring his application to the full board for consideration, Boucher instead chose to privately vet the candidate, telling him she already favored another candidate — Rich McCarty — an unaffiliated voter who’s name was submitted by the Democratic Town Committee. Since then, McCarty has also been endorsed by the DTC to run for the BOS in the November municipal election.

According to Suchy, during a private meeting with Boucher, she informed him that he would be her “second choice,” noting she was the “ultimate decision maker” in the process because she had the tie-breaking vote on the now four-person board and could decide on who filled the vacancy.

Boucher, a Republican, has received strong criticism for her handling of the situation from her fellow Republicans on the board, Cole and Healy. Lone Democratic Selectman Ross Tartell, however, continues to side with Boucher, and this week argued vehemently on her behalf in favor of the selection process as it’s been handled.

McCarty, the DTC’s preferred candidate, was the only name put on the July 22 BOS agenda for an interview with the full board and, according to the agenda, a possible vote of approval. Cole and Healy raised objections, however, and ultimately the BOS decided to extend the window for candidate submissions by another week.

“I feel like our board has been circumvented in this process … I think we should have heard from everyone that put an application in and we should have had an opportunity to interview them,” Cole said on Tuesday.

Since the meeting, one new candidate has already submitted his name and resume. Keith Denning, a former state representative, has offered to fill the vacancy.

“As a former state representative I feel I am qualified,” Denning wrote to GOOD Morning Wilton.

“As I have been ghosted by the Democratic party and (am) now an unaffiliated voter I am willing to serve the five remaining months,” he said.

Denning served one term in Hartford, but decided not to run for re-election.

Jay Rooney, who had submitted his name for consideration prior to Tuesday’s meeting, told Boucher he is still potentially interested in taking on the role, if asked. He was interviewed in executive session by the BOS on Tuesday evening for a seat on the Inland Wetlands Commission.

“If for any reason the BOS feels that the remaining candidate isn’t qualified or has conflicts, please let me know and I am happy to interview as needed,” he told Boucher by email on July 24.

Mark Shaner, an unaffiliated voter, had also submitted his name for consideration prior to Tuesday’s meeting. During the meeting, the BOS members said Shaner withdrew his name because he had been endorsed by the Republican Town Committee to run for the Board of Education. Shaner did not respond to requests from GMW for comment on whether he is still interested in the BOS seat.

Alongside McCarty, another candidate — Democrat David Tatkow — was endorsed by the DTC to run for the BOS in November. Tatkow told GMW he did not submit his name for the vacancy appointment, nor did he receive a DTC endorsement to do so.

Tatkow said he was not interested in being considered for the vacancy.

Suchy’s Letter of Clarification to BOS

Suchy’s three-page letter documents his interactions and meeting with Boucher in detail.

After submitting a cover letter and resume, Suchy was called by Boucher, who said as part of a “screening process” she wanted to meet at a local diner on July 5. At their meeting, Suchy outlined an extensive background that included serving on two BOS advisory committees.

“I stressed that besides the volunteer members of the committee, the town staff members to these committees were professional, diligent, and extremely helpful to the process,” Suchy wrote.

He noted that Boucher apparently mentioned individuals by name with whom she was frustrated.

“It was at this point that the First Selectman expressed frustration with certain current and former public officials and appointed persons,” he said. “I indicated that I had worked with some of those named, and found them to be smart, competent, and dedicated to our community. I indicated that while criticism is sometimes unwarranted, we all have to have ‘thick skins,’ and that criticism is part of the job.”

Boucher went on to broach various topics, including the pending Ambler Farm lease, which is still in discussion at the BOS. “She stressed that the negotiations needed to be completed and that it was taking an inordinate amount of time,” Suchy said.

Suchy said Boucher told him that three other candidates had expressed interest in the vacancy.

“The First Selectman said that she had already spoken to the other candidates, and that the unaffiliated candidate (McCarty) would be her number one choice and that I was second,” Suchy said.

“The First Selectman then explained that she would be the ultimate decision maker regarding the BOS vacancy since she had the ability to break a tie vote,” he said. “I was then asked if I had any desire to serve on the Inland Wetlands Commission. I reminded her that my wife, Liz, is a practicing land use attorney who frequently represents clients before this Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission, and as result, it would be likely that I would need to recuse myself too many times, which would not be in the best interest of the town.”

“She … then asked if I wanted to present myself to the Board of Selectmen for an interview,” Suchy said. “When I asked if it could change her position, she indicated that I was her second choice.

“I told her that I would respectfully decline, because I was disinterested in being mere ‘window dressing’ to this process,” Suchy said.

Boucher reached out to Suchy again by phone on July 9, asking if he wanted to be considered for either Inland Wetlands or the BOS. “I politely declined,” Suchy wrote.

Suchy said he appreciated Cole and Healy’s assessment of the process, affirming that he felt the process was flawed and lacking in the BOS’s awareness of other candidates.

“Regarding the opportunity to interview again in August, my family and I will be out of state (and) for such an important role, I believe that only an in-person interview is appropriate and fair to all,” he said. “Accordingly I will not be resubmitting my name for consideration,” he said.

Boucher continues to maintain that the process is appropriate.

“I believe that the procedure to appoint a new BOS member to the board vacancy is correct,” she said in an email response to questions from GMW.

Boucher said she has included an announcement that candidates are still being considered in her July newsletter, which was released the morning of July 24. She included a solicitation for anyone interested in applying to email her directly. At Tuesday’s meeting, the full BOS had asked that candidates reach out through the board’s collective email address.

Residents who are interested in being considered for the vacant BOS seat who are registered Democrats, unaffiliated, or a third-party voter, can contact the Board of Selectmen via email.

Editor’s note: The story has been updated to clarify that Keith Denning publicly stated he was not running for reelection before the Democratic Town Committee had a discussion about nominations for the next state legislative campaign.