Power triumphs in rancorous P and Z battle

SHARON — No one was quite sure what brought out some 900 voters —almost 50 percent of eligible voters — to the polling place at Town Hall on Tuesday.

It’s unlikely it was the hot political contests. Only four seats were contested (treasurer, a partial term on the Board of Education, Planning and Zoning Commission — one regular seat and one alternate).

The most talked-about race in this political season was the face-off between newcomer Lawrence Power and incumbent William Manasse for a full seat on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

When the votes were tallied, Power came out on top with 548 votes to 430 votes for Manasse.

The three selectmen were unopposed and were all returned to office; all were at Town Hall as the votes were counted, and said they look forward to working together for the next two years.

First Selectman Malcolm Brown mused over issues that the board will face as he awaited the final tally.

"We need to continue to work on affordable housing and break that log- jam," he said. "And the town is going to have to state what it thinks about a proposal concerning a recreation facility in Sharon Valley. Things are pointing in the direction of this coming to vote, on whether or not the town wishes to proceed."

The three Board of Education members were returned to their seats. Democrat Marilyn Yerks defeated incumbent Republican Harry Rubicam for a two-year seat on the Board of Education. Rubicam had been filling in for Judge Manning, who had resigned from the board (his wife is now principal of Sharon Center School).

"I’m disappointed because I truly enjoyed serving on the board. However the voters have had their say," Rubicam said Tuesday night.

Yerks, an active member of the school community and mother of a Sharon Center student, exuded enthusiasm when asked Wednesday morning about her election to the board.

"Thank you to everyone who supported me, and thanks to Harry Rubicam for being such a gracious opponent. I am looking forward to working on the board and doing what is best for Sharon’s kids."

Incumbent Stanley MacMillan was also voted back to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

"I was very saddened to see the Planning and Zoning Commission lose a 24-year member," MacMillan said early Wednesday morning (referring to Manasse), "to someone who ran a very negative campaign, which is unusual in Sharon. Power was very negative toward his opponents as well as to the commission itself.

"It is my feeling that the commission, while we haven’t always agreed on everything, has always tried to do what is best for the town and not what is best for a political party. I think the members are going to have a hard time adjusting to the new member and his negative attitude."

MacMillan concluded by showing gratitude for the support he received.

"I want to thank everyone who supported me and hopefully the commission will be able to over come these issues and move forward. We have a very busy agenda and have to work on bringing forth the regulations for the 10-year Plan of Conservation for the town."

Power was all business when asked about his victory.

"My election is a clear mandate to Planning and Zoning to manage growth," he said on Wednesday, "and pass the regulations that are supported by the recommendations made at the public forum that was held in Sharon in 2005."

Power also showed optimism when asked about working with members of the commission.

"I think it will be great, no problem, I want to help show ways for work to get done efficiently."

Overall, however, it was a smooth and quiet election. There was some concern that the new voting machine would break down midstream, but it did not . There was some human error, however. Twenty-four people had to redo their ballots because they made errors the first time around. After votes were counted from the electronic voting machine, 79 absentee ballots were added to the total.

There were a total of 1,824 registered voters: 597 Republicans, 540 Democrats, 686 unaffiliated and two "other."