Three Candidates For City Clerk Debate The Issues

Just a few short days ago the Plymouth Men's Club put on yet another debate for citizens of Milford. This debate was centered around our local candidates for city clerk and in attendance was Linda Stock, Richard Roy, and Michael Konopka. The guest of honor was certainly Alan Jebson who after many years as our city clerk is retiring.

All the candidates performed well, and Jebson got high regards from all the contenders on stage. Qustions were drawn from the audience, and in tradition with the procedures of the PMC the boy Scouts Helped usher in those questions. In attendance were about 75 people mostly party members and the candidates families.

The video below was filmed by MGAT and is the debate in its entirety. We highly recommend you watch it and vote for the best qualified candidate.

Dick Roy Will "Resign" If Successful In Bid For City Clerk

If state Rep. Richard F. Roy, D-Milford, is successful in his bid for city clerk, aldermanic Chairman Ben Blake, D-5, has been targeted by party leaders to run for the open seat.

Roy, D-119, said if he defeats his Republican challenger, Linda Stock, to succeed longtime City Clerk Alan Jepson, who is retiring in November, then he would resign his state House seat.

Jepson, a Democrat, has held the position since 1987. Democratic Party Chairman Richard Smith said several people have expressed interest in running for Roy’s seat. Smith said he’d like to see Blake “step up” if the seat becomes available.

“I have all the confidence in the world in (Blake) and know he would make an exceptional state legislator,” Smith said.

A special election would be called in the fall if Roy’s seat is vacated. The position would also be up in the regular 2010 election.

Blake said right now he’s focused on his seat on the Board of Aldermen, which is up for election in November.

However, Blake said he would consider running for state representative.

“It would be something I would consider, but it’s not a focus right now,” he said.

Blake said following Roy would be a difficult task, noting Roy’s seniority as a 17-year veteran of the General Assembly and his chairmanship of the Environment Committee.

Blake will seek his fourth term on the aldermanic board. He became chairman in 2007, when Democrats took control of the board for the first time in 24 years.

The 119th District includes the Woodmont and Morningside sections and areas directly north of downtown.

As for a Republican seeking to capture the seat, Republican Town Chairman Tom Jagodinski said the party would have no trouble coming up with candidates.

“Obviously, open seats are good for us as there is a reasonable chance for us to take those seats,” he said.

Planning and Zoning Board member Kevin Liddy, a Republican, ran unsuccessfully against Roy in 2006 and 2008.

Roy has said if victorious he will miss being a state representative, but is looking forward to the chance to work more directly with the public as city clerk.

Roy defeated PZB Vice Chairwoman Kim Rose at the Democrats’ nominating convention for the city clerk post.

Rose has said she will not run against Roy in a primary.

Original Story Chris Rhatigan

Alan Jepson Retiring From City Clerk

There is no greater icon in town than our beloved city clerk Alan Jepson. For most of his life Jepson served the town of Milford in various offices, including the duty of our Mayor.

Jepsons retirement marks an end to over Twenty years of service as Milford's City Clerk. These memories are none the less fonder around this time of year, because on the 4Th of July Alan would dress the part of Uncle Sam at out town celebration and greet residents at the gazebo on the green. For the first time in many years the man under the beard and hat will be someone else, as Alan will not be doing it again.

Alan is at the age where he is ready for retirement, but those in the Independent Party here in Milford have stated that Jepsons retirement has also brought some challenges for those individuals who are seeking to replace him.

The job of City Clerk will be passed on, and some popular names are emerging as contenders for the post. The Democrats are expected to put up Currently Serving State Rep. Richard Roy. Roy, who has not formally announced he will retire from the the House if elected Clerk, has the option of holding both jobs. This will allow Roy to earn a salary estimated at $130,000.00 per year. This of course, also comes with benefits from the state as well as the city of Milford. This would make a Roy win a very lucrative proposition.

According to the Democrats, the position of City Clerk is "Settled" and they are expecting no Republican contender, this they indicated on their blog is the "tradition." Of course the blog post has been removed as of today, but none the less the allegation now stands and no known Republican contender exists yet.

The Independent Party in Milford, is questioning the the practice of "Cross Endorsements" and the practice of "holding multiple elected offices." Should someone like Dick Roy run for, and succeed in his bid for City Clerk the people of Milford could be denied the exclusivity of that office, instead sharing Mr. Roy with the state legislature if he fails to resign. The Independent Contender for City Clerk Michael Konopka has indicated he will give the people of Millford "110% of his attention," hence meeting the expectations of the job and the needs of the public.

This Democratic practice of "double dipping" was seen once before when Gubernatorial contender Jim Amann attempted to take a $120,000.00 job as the new CT House Speaker Donovan's assistant. This job was to be accomplished in tandem with his private sector job working as a fund raiser for a Charity and Running for Governor with the funds (3 Million Dollars) he expects to receive from a CEP grant.

Even though the city of Milford will miss our endeared City Clerk Alan Jepson, the voters need to be vigilant against the shenanigans of party politics here in town. The public pays the City Clerk very well for a reason. That reason has more to do with the fact that it is a full time job that demands a great deal of time and responsibility.

That responsibility also includes attending Board of Alderman meetings as Jepson did very well. Placing a person in this office, who also holds the job of a State Representative will surely find conflicts in his ability to attend the aldermanic meetings. This will also limit the amount of time he can spend at his desk in the Clerks office. The Clerk needs to be available to personally sign important documents, and this should be noted when discussion as to the individual candidates career choices arises and the condoning of absenteeism. They need not be the problem of Milford's Taxpayers.

Photo from Milford Rotary Website