News

SW Candidates Getting Ready for Election Day

Elizabeth Sinclair, Web Editor • November 6, 2023

South Windsor’s Town Council candidates share their insight and give advice to South Windsor High School students.

South Windsor’s Candidates’ Campaigns Are Up and Running

Erica Evans is a candidate running again for town council. This former educator, first got involved in the Board of Education. (Courtesy Erica Evans)

Erica Evans

Evans is a candidate running again for town council. This former educator first got involved in the Board of Education.

“I wanted to support the school system and be a driver of positive change for the community and all future generations,” Evans said.

After her term on the Board of Education, she felt that it was important to bring her experiences in education and her support of the schools to the town council. During her previous terms on the council, she has completed and launched two different commissions in South Windsor. One of her initiatives is to keep these two commissions strong due how important they are for the community's expansion and being a welcoming community.

One of her hopes for the future is to get to know her new council members.

“In the four years I have served on the council, it has been a pleasure to get to know the different perspectives and interests of the other councilors,” said Evans.

She is proud that they have been able to pass a unanimous budget for the benefit of the residents.

When asked if she could give a piece of advice to the students of South Windsor High School who some day might want to run for council, Evans responded, “There is much to learn in the work of running a campaign and it is a great way to get started to see what is involved with becoming a candidate themselves.”

Steven King Jr is a Candidate for town council. He moved to South Windsor 10 years ago, and has served as South Windsor’s first Black Deputy mayor. (SW Town Council)

Steven King Jr.

Steven King Jr is a candidate who is rerunning for town council. He moved to South Windsor 10 years ago, and has served as South Windsor’s first Black Deputy mayor.

When he first moved to South Windsor, he wanted to get involved in the town, he coached for the South Windsor recreational soccer team. He was the only Black soccer coach in the South Windsor league at that time.

King wanted to stay involved in the community, so he joined the Water pollution Control Authority, and one of South Windsor’s local committees, the Inland Wetland Agency .

“I just wanted to have a voice for people that didn't have a voice,” King said.

King ran for town council and was the first Black man appointed to the council. Later he was elected as deputy mayor.

King became the first Black Deputy Mayor in South Windsor’s history. One of King's initiatives that he wants to promote in South Windsor is to find ways to ask residents “Do you need help?” King wants to make sure that the town is really caring about its citizens, especially the ones who might be shy or in a position where they are unable to ask for help.

“To put everyone in each other's shoes, it shouldn't matter if you're a Republican or Democrat.”

One hope that King has for the future is to build better relationships between each resident in South Windsor.

“We don't have to be disagreeable to the point where we are drawing a line in the sand,” King explained. "We want to be a town where if one person hurts, everyone hurts.”

When asked by The Prowl if he could give a piece of advice to the students of South Windsor High School who someday might want to run for council, King responded, “Get involved early in the town, whether it's a soup kitchen or something else,” and “don't lose yourself. You're supposed to represent all of South Windsor and be their voice for all of South Windsor.”

Marek Kozikowski is running for town council. (Kristen Kozikowski)

Marek Kozikowski

Marek Kozikowski is rerunning for town council.

“Public service is very important to me and finding ways to give back to the community,” said Kozikowski.

Being on the town council gives him a way to put his experience and law skills to work and help serve his community. One of Kozikowski’s initiatives that he wants to promote more is protecting open space in South Windsor. He believes that the town should be proactive to preserve our farms and open lands.

“I have always had a passion for helping others,” said Kozikowski.

He’s always had a desire to make a difference in people's lives and getting elected to the town council will help him do that. When asked by The Prowl if he could give a piece of advice to the students of South Windsor High School who might some day might want to run for council, he said to “Have a passion for wanting to help others and have a desire to want to make a difference in people's lives.”

Matthew Siracusa is running for town councilman. He grew up in South Windsor and graduated from South Windsor High School in the class of 2008. He was a baseball and hockey player for the SWHS team. He is one of South Windsor’s own. (Sarah May)

Matthew Siracusa

Matthew Siracusa grew up in South Windsor and graduated from South Windsor High School in the class of 2008. He was a baseball and hockey player for the SWHS team. He is one of South Windsor's own.

“I have lived in this town for my entire life,” said Siracusa, “I have a deep love for the entire town.”

One of the things that Siracusa noticed after graduation was that many of his fellow classmates did not want to come back to South Windsor. Some of it had to do with the cost of living in South Windsor and its taxes. One thing he would really like to focus on as his initiative is town spending.

“With my business background, I can see where we should be saving money and where we should be spending,” Siracusa said.

Siracusa noticed that during the previous term, the residents were not being listened to, so he hopes that in the future South Windsor can vote in a way that is for the citizens.

One piece of advice that Siracusa gives to any SWHS student who might want to run for council is that “you should get involved [and] reach out to people”.

Phil Koboski is a candidate running for town council. (SW Town Council)

Phil Koboski

Phil Koboski is a candidate rerunning for town council.

“I've always had an interest in the public,” Koboski said in an interview with The Prowl.

Before town council, Koboski served three terms on the Board of Education. During Koboski’s break from the Board of Education, he was interested in how the town worked on a financial basis.

“With the taxing priest at the time, and the financial background, it was a good time to get involved,” so Koboski decided to put his financial experience to work.

One initiative that he would like to continue is to work on the roads.

“I have sat down with citizens to work on the speeding cars issue,” Koboski said.

Koboski has also worked with legislatures to reduce the smell coming from the farms on Main Street.

The Prowl asked Koboski if he could give a piece of advice to the students of South Windsor High School who some day might want to run for council, and his advice was to "not be afraid to talk to residents, and just be open to listening to the people.”

About the Contributor

Elizabeth Sinclair, Web Editor

Elizabeth Sinclair is the Web Editor for The Bobcat Prowl newspaper at South Windsor High School. She manages everything on the website from layout designs to publishing stories. She is currently a junior at SWHS. She has been with The Prowl for two years now,and enjoys writing articles and being part of the team. Elizabeth is a scholar at the National Society of High School Scholars. This encourages her to work harder inside and outside of school. Usually you can find Elizabeth attending a girl scout event, training for dance, or on the field playing soccer.