Spark Notes on South Windsor Municipal Election Candidates
November 1, 2021
On November 2nd, South Windsor will elect its new Town Council, Board of Education, and Planning & Zoning commission during its 2021 municipal election. This election is one of the most important in recent town history, given South Windsor’s rising population growth and spending. These future town officials will dictate the future of our town, and the quality of living for every resident. Here is a list of the South Windsor 2021 municipal election candidates and everything you need to know before voting, including candidates’ political party, town residency, experience, and advocacies. The candidates are listed in no particular order. More information is available about these candidates on the South Windsor Democratic and Republican websites.
Town Council
- Marek Kozikowski
- Republican Party
- Resident for 20 years
- Advocates for sustainable development, job creation, stable grand list growth
- Born and raised in SW
- Elena Poma
- Republican Party
- Born in Puerto Rico & raised in Hartford
- Has bachelors degree in science and masters in social work
- Fluent in English and Spanish
- SW resident for over 20 years
- Phil Koboski
- Republican Party
- Resident of 20 years
- 35 years experience in insurance accounting
- Served 3 terms on BOE
- Education at Greater Hartford Community College and CentralConnecticut State University
- Miguel Proano
- Republican Party
- Resident since 2017
- Born in Colombia and immigrated to Connecticut
- Small business owner / Operations Manager for international beverage company
- Advocates for a more business friendly environment
- Jamie Gamble
- Republican Party
- Resident of 12 years
- Volunteer in numerous civic and youth programs
- Advocates for government transparency and fiscal responsibility
- Bachelors of Science in Applied Actuarial Mathematics. Bryant University
- Erica Evans
- Democratic Party
- SW BOE member 2017-2019
- Advocates for diversity, equity, fiscal responsibility, health and recreation, education, infrastructure, sustainability
- Mother of 3 in SW
- Steven King Jr.
- Democratic Party
- Trusted businessman with experience in business development, and experience in SW Water Pollution Control Authority
- Advocates for town safety, sustainable future, controlled & safe town growth
- Bachelor of Science (Marketing) at Penn State University
- Cesar Lopez
- Democratic Party
- 31 years experience in business intelligence in insurance industry
- Incumbent since 2018
- Advocates for unified approach to town initiatives, environmental protection, increasing property values, creating healthier and more inclusive community
- Bachelors in Management Information Systems. Albertus Magnus College
- Karen Lydecker
- Democratic Party
- Incumbent of 3 years that has helped to lower taxes and helped town growth
- Advocates for access to daycare, restructure of Juvenile review board, and make town diverse and inclusive
- Bachelor of Arts, Central Connecticut State University
- Andrew Paterna
- Democratic Party
- Advocates for affordable housing, diversity, equity, and inclusion in town gov and schools, and preserving farmland and parks, renewable energy, holding line on taxes
- Incumbent of 6 years
- Bachelors in Physical Education and Health & Recreation, Montclair State University (NJ)
- Elizabeth Pendleton
- Democratic Party
- Lifelong South Windsor resident
- Advocates for reasonable taxes, economic development, local businesses, first responders, BOE, addressing needs due to pandemic
- Incumbent of 12 years
- U.S. Air Force Veteran
- SWHS graduate
Board of Education
- Anitha Elango
- Democratic Party
- PTO member for over 8 years
- Incumbent
- Advocates for maintaining excellent school system, STEM, special education
- PhD (Molecular and Cell Biology) – University of Connecticut
- Madison González
- Democratic Party
- Advocates for accessible education, quality education, diversity and equity in staff and students, new and comprehensive staff and faculty training
- SWHS class of 2017
- B.A. Urban and Community Studies (minor in Spanish), May 2021, UCONN
- UCONN, Master of Social Work, May 2023 (expected)
- Current student at UCONN
- Mike Paré
- Democratic Party
- Advocates for equity and appropriate funding for SWPS, many opportunities for SWPS students, implement appropriate COVID-19 responses, modernization of HVAC systems for TEMS and SWHS, increase funding mental health to mental health needs,
- 2 term incumbent for BOE
- Seventeen years experience in financial management
- Father of 8 years
- Jessica Waterhouse
- Democratic Party
- Running for Vice Chair of BOE
- Advocates for fiscal responsibility, keeping SWPS a model school system,
- Incumbent Vice Chair for 4 years
- Bachelors of Science and Master’s in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
- Craig Zimmerman
- Democratic Party
- Current Chairman of BOE
- Advocates for improving health, education, safety, and academic welfare of SWPS students
- Advocates for construction of new Pleasant Valley Elementary School
- BOE member since 2011
- 32 years experience as a manager with the Department of Social Services
- Bachelor of Science (Finance ) – University of Connecticut
- Beth Esstman
- Republican Party
- Resident since 2008
- Has 4 children in / through SWHS education system
- Masters of Science in Nursing. Yale University
- Art Aducci III
- Republican Party
- Resident since 2017
- Has children in SWHS education system
- Wife is special education teacher in Ellington
- BOE Incumbent since 2018
- Was advocate for SW elementary schools reconstruction
- Advocated to continue to improve SWPS system & making sure budget is spent appropriately
- Masters in Business Administration at Southern New Hampshire University
- Stephanie Weintraub
- Republican Party
- Resident of 3 years
- Advocates for teachers needs and building bright futures for SWPS students
- Lisa Maneeley
- Republican Party
- Resident since 1990
- Has 3 children in SWPS
- 32 years experience as math teacher
- Elected to BOE in 2003 and Town Council in 2015
- Masters of Science in Education. Central Connecticut State University
- Advocates for appropriate school funding to allow best education for SWPS students
- Dipali Kalia
- Republican Party
- Resident for over 10 years
- Moved to U.S. from India in 1999
- Two children in SWPS system
- Advocates for early access to STEM education and encourages curiosity
Planning & Zoning Commission
- Rickard M Balboni Jr.
- Republican Party
- Lifelong SW resident
- Owns a local gym
- Served with CT Army National Guard
- Advocates for fiscal town growth while preserving small-town atmosphere
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting at Phoenix University
- Mike LeBlanc
- Republican Party
- SWHS Graduate
- Attended Central Connecticut State University
- 30+ years experience in infrastructure engineering, Occupation: Code Enforcement Manager
- Incumbent in Planning & Zoning Commission for 8 years
- Alan Cavagnaro
- Democratic Party
- Experience in South Windsor Planning and Zoning Alternate, Future Leaders in Politics Member and Treasurer
- Lifelong South Windsor Resident
- Advocates for affordable housing, more youth in government, better traffic management and more sidewalks
- Recent SWHS graduate
- Attends Manchester Community College
- Robert Vetere
- Democratic Party
- South Windsor resident of 38 years
- Experience in 2 fortune 500 companies
- Experience as CEO of a trade association covering the $100 billion pet industry
- MBA (Marketing) – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- JD – Seton Hall School of Law
- Steve Wagner
- Democratic Party
- Town Government incumbent for 20 years
- Advocates for improvement to Buckland Hills infrastructure & roads, affordable housing, fair competition between small and large companies,
- Chair of Energy Committee
- Experience as a Nuclear Physicist and Engineer at Combustion Engineering
- Democratic Party
