Who's in this Republican Primary?

CJ Thomas has only sat on the Town Council bench since January, when William Wadsworth vacated the seat. Thomas was appointed with the blessing of the Farmington Republican Town Committee and was comfortably positioned to run to retain the seat in the November election. But then fellow Republican Jon Landry stepped in to challenge Thomas at the caucus – and won with 48 votes to Thomas’ 22.

But Thomas says he’s not ready to let 26 votes keep him from returning to the Town Council and fulfilling the commitment he made in January.

“At that time, I was asked if I would be willing to run for the seat at the end of the year.  I agreed and was again endorsed unanimously on July 26th by all members present at the RTC meeting. I am now following through on my commitment to the RTC and to my constituents to run,” Thomas said.

After Landry left the caucus with the nomination, Thomas got a petition to run for the seat — actually, he got two. By the deadline, Thomas had gathered signatures to petition to primary as a Republican and to run in the general election as an independent. Now he says he’ll pursue candidacy through the primary.

During the day, Thomas leads Ray H. Morris, a steel products distribution company in New Britain, which has recently delved into green technology. He lives in Farmington with his wife Alex and two sons.

For the council, Thomas chairs the town’s green efforts municipal subcommittee, represents Farmington on the Capitol Region Council of Governments legislative committee and was appointed to the Board of Education’s negotiations committee, which is currently in contract negotiations.

“My background includes over 25 years in business, finance, and government.  I brought the executive decision-making experience that I feel is crucial to a council member.  I have the knowledge to analyze financial risks and the effect those risks have on future financial needs,” Thomas said. “I will continue to give to the community to help Farmington stay the fiscally responsible, well run, and desirable community we have today.”

During his eight months on the council, Thomas has been a clear, reasonable voice, questioning every spending decision. He has voted with the Republican majority on every vote during his term.

Some have taken Thomas’ soft-spoken demeanor for a lack of fortitude. But fighting, Thomas said, is a part of what he does every day.

“I fight the roadblocks thrown in front of all small businesses. I fight to keep our town running well on a fiscally conservative budget. I fight to keep my two boys striving to reach their potentials. I fight to live up to my wife’s faith in me. I fight to be the person my parents raised me to be.”

In contrast, Jon Landry’s voice has been unapologetically dissonant at Board of Education meetings, where Democrats hold the majority. Throughout the past year, Landry politely disagreed, opposed and stood on the losing side of many votes.

He frequently moved to cut costs — most notably in repeated attempts to do away with the town’s Alterative High School, which costs more than $200,000 a year and serves less than 20 students. But on some issues, Landry opposed cuts he said would hurt students, such as reductions in the middle school late bus. An information technology director for Simon Konover Properties, Landry served on the board’s exploratory technology funding committee, which looked at the status of neighboring school districts’ technology and how they secured funding. At board meetings, he continually argued for technology to remain a budget priority.

Thomas said he was surprised by Landry’s challenge, in which Landry won the party endorsement, since he had attended both meetings at which Thomas was supported for the seat.

Landry shrugged off criticism of the move, saying though unusual for Farmington, a primary is a normal part of democracy — especially with Wadsworth’s council seat “open.”

“Democracy is the foundation of what this country was founded on and it is healthy. It’s important to remember that while we may have slightly different philosophies, we are all on the same team and we all want what is best for Farmington,” Landry said.

Doing what’s best for the town is what Landry said motivated him to run for the seat.

“I believe that with my business and budgeting background, values, and proven track record of fiscal responsibility, the council is the place where I can best offer my experience, insight and talents,” he said. “We have an open seat this year with Bill Wadsworth being elected to the State House, and I share a lot of his philosophy when it comes to quality of life issues and financial prudence and would like to step in where he left off.”

Landry and his wife Erika have two young girls.

“I am a hard-working, dedicated, and passionate person. I believe that family is number one. I also believe that to do something is to do it well and to the best of your ability,” Landry said.

Landry and Thomas are not alone in their quest for the seat Wadsworth vacated. Two first district council seats are up for up for grabs, drawing incumbent Nancy Nickerson into the primary.

Nickerson, who grew up in Farmington a fourth generation town resident, was elected to the Town Council after 16 years on the Board of Education — 10 as chairman.

Despite her history with the board, Nickerson recommended lower budget targets and greater cuts to education funding than other council members, with the exception of Charlie Keniston. She has voted with the Republican majority on every vote in the past year.

Nickerson and her husband Alan have three grown children. She is currently away on vacation.

More information about Thomas and Nickerson is available at Farmington-ct.org and about Landry at jonlandry.com.

Information about the primary is available .