Richardson to resign from RTC

SALISBURY — Citing personal reasons, Republican Town Committee Chairman Doug Richardson announced he will resign from the committee at the completion of the November municipal elections.

"I am now working two jobs," Richardson told the committee at its regular meeting Tuesday night. "And I have to find a new place to live."

In addition to his business as a stonemason, Richardson is substitute teaching at Housatonic Valley Regional High School and is assistant coach of the football team. His landlord recently told Richardson the house he is renting will be sold, so he must vacate the premises soon. That means he must look for a new place and pack his belongings at the same time.

Given the expense of rental units in the town of Salisbury, Richardson said it is a distinct possibility he might have to move to a neighboring town such as Millerton or North Canaan. If that happens, he would be forbidden by law from serving on the committee anyway.

The Republican Town Committee has been beset by a series of mishaps culminating in the inability of the committee to place any of its caucus-endorsed candidates on the ballot for the Nov. 6 elections. All must run as write-in candidates. Fortunately, for the Republicans, few of the races are contested.

After accepting Richardson’s resignation, the committee spent the next hour discussing the logistics of ensuring that the write-in candidates registered properly with the secretary of the state’s office. Also discussed was whether to advertise the party’s endorsed candidates in the local media.

Richardson has chaired the committee since 2005, when he was appointed after a noisy and public feud between the conservative and moderate-to-liberal wings of the committee. The conservatives, including Alfred Nemiroff, Kate Walsh and Jonathan Neville, have all resigned.