Kaupin, Hall Join Ousted Republicans in At-Large Town Council Bid

By Chris Dehnel

Four prominent Enfield Republicans are mobilizing for a primary against the Town Council ticket nominated by their party for the November elections, and they already have two events scheduled in an effort to gather signatures.

Scott Kaupin, Carol Hall, Greg Stokes and Donna Szewczak filed paperwork Monday to force a primary for at-large seats on the Town Council. They need 215 signatures from registered Republicans to get on the ballot.

Hall was renominated at the caucus last Monday, but apparently declined. Stokes, an incumbent, and Szewczak, an incumbent Board of Education member, lost their renomination bids.

Kaupin said he made his decision to run based on an outpouring of support around town.

"Since last Monday when the caucus ousted several good people, I have been contacted by a couple of hundred people,” Kaupin said. “I have received phone calls, e-mails, people have stopped me in my car and in stores, and I have been sent cards asking me to reconsider."

Cards?  

"Yes. People have sent cards in the mail. It has been a little overwhelming. Some thanking me for my service, and some disappointed that I wasn't running for re-election." 

"And quite a few have been asking that I reconsider." 

Kaupin said he had conversations with his family and then huddled with the ousted GOP members after Hall returned from a business trip in South Carolina. 

"Based on the feedback we have — we have all been receiving encouragement to stand up and go for a primary — we have decided to give Republicans a choice in who they want in a September primary,” Kaupin said. “We did not like all the maneuvering that went on behind the scenes … when sitting council members worked behind the scenes to oust two respected council members.

“It just does not sit well with a lot of people in town. At the local level, those political games are not well-liked."

Kaupin said two events have been planned to help the petitioning Republicans gather signatures:

• Wednesday, July 31, at 7 p.m. at Collins Creamery on Powder Hill Road;
• Thursday, Aug. 1, at 6 p.m. at the town green gazebo.