Republican Town Committee Endorses Nancy Nickerson for Town Council Chair

The Republican Town Committee backed Nancy Nickerson for its Town Council chairperson candidate at its caucus on Monday.

Both the incumbent and fellow council member C.J. Thomas were nominated.

Nickerson won a written ballot vote with 33 votes. Thomas earned 22.

"I'm delighted to be running as chair and look forward to working hard with an outstanding slate of candidates," Nickerson said. " I've had great mentors in Mike Clark and Jeff Hogan. That will be big shoes to fill.... I look forward to the opportunity for continuing to serve the people of Farmington."

If elected, Nickerson will not be the first female council chairperson. Bea Stockwell and Arline Whitaker have served as chairperson in previous years, she said.

Thomas said that while he's disappointed, he doesn't plan on running in the primary in September against Nickerson. That means that by default he loses his chance for re-election to a seat on the Town Council. He said he plans to back the Republican slate. 

However, fellow Town Council incumbent Charles Keniston was not endorsed by the town committee as one of two Second District candidates. Rather than running in the primary for that race, he said that he would instead plan to primary for the chair's seat.

He congratulated his opponents Meredith Trimble and Jeff Apuzzo when they won the party's endorsement.

In order to primary, Keniston would have to file paperwork with Town Clerk Paula Ray. The chairman's slot is the only elected position with potential for a primary this year, Republican Town Committee Chairman Mike Clark said.

"I still would be surprised if there is a primary for the chair," Clark said. "Party unity usually steps in after an emotional night."

Clark, former Farmington Town Council chairman and a past Fifth Congressional District Candidate, spoke highly of Nickerson as the endorsed candidate.

"She's got experience and she's got the electability," he said. "She's going to be a very formidable candidate."

Each party can put two candidates on the November ballot for each of the two Council districts and three will be chosen for each district. Current Board of Education member Jon Landry and Peter Mastrobattista were endorsed unopposed for First District Town Council slots.

Incumbent Chairman Jeff Hogan has opted not to run for re-election

"I’m anxious to spend some more time with my family," Hogan wrote in an email to Patch. "My business obligations are extremely engaging and exciting and I’m in the process of working on a startup company which requires a greater time commitment. I’ve loved my time on the Council and I’m proud of all that this Council has accomplished together."

Clark said he was pleased with the turnout of 59 out of 70 committee members. He called the candidates for November's election the "fabric of Farmington."

"We delivered a great slate of candidates that's going to be victorious in November," he said. “We are in for a difficult election and to carry this election, we have to band together.”

Other candidates the Republican Town Committee endorsed are:

• Phil Dunn and Bob Jarvis for Town Planning and Zoning
• Jay Fraprie and Mike Gurski as TPZ alternates.
• Sharon Mazzochi and Johnny Carrier for the Zoning Board of Appeals 
• Gary Palumbo and John Brockelman as ZBA alternates
• Bill Baker and Shawn Curtis for Board of Education, as well as Stoddard
• Diane Rogers and Geno Avenoso as constables
• John Simoneau for Board of Assessment Appeals
• Paula Ray for Town Clerk