Mar 27, 2008
Peggy Reeves, Wilton's Democratic registrar, will run for 143rd District
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State Rep. Toni Boucher of the 143rd District will have to fight for her seat this election year, and the challenge is coming from Peggy Reeves, the town’s Democratic registrar of voters for the last 14 years.
Ms. Reeves announced her candidacy Monday morning on the steps of town hall to an audience of about 20. The theme of her speech was one of change.
“Voters throughout the state, and indeed throughout the country, are calling for change. For too long we have sent representatives to Hartford representing just one viewpoint,” said Ms. Reeves. “I stand before you because I believe it is time for a change. I believe we need more leaders who are respected, honest, open and transparent.”
In addition to Ms. Reeves’s work in the registrar’s office, she has served as president of the Wilton League of Women Voters, as a trustee of the Wilton Library Association, as president of the Driscoll School PTA and chairman of the Wilton unit of the Salvation Army. She is a 30-year resident of Wilton.
Ms. Reeves said in an interview Tuesday that in the opening stages of the campaign she would be conducting a listening tour across the district in order to learn constituent priorities and concerns.
“I really need to listen to everyone and see what they have to say,” said Ms. Reeves.
Going negative
By Wednesday both Ms. Boucher and Al Alper, chair of the Republican Town Committee, said they took issue with what they described as the negative politics of Ms. Reeves’ speech.
“I welcome the opportunity to debate the important issues facing our state with my opponent, but I must say that I am deeply disappointed that she has chosen to begin the process with a decidedly negative tone,” wrote Ms. Boucher in a statement.
Ms. Boucher has served as state representative since 1996. She confirmed Tuesday she would be running for her seat this November.
“This statement is truly puzzling, as being direct, honest, transparent and a fighter for her constituents is a reputation that I have earned through a long record of many successful battles for the benefit of our district,” said Ms. Boucher in her statement. “My opponent also infers that the many years of listening to my constituents and successfully championing their important causes should be overlooked by those I consider friends and colleagues.”
And Mr. Alper concurred with Ms. Boucher.
“An honest open political debate between opponents is a valid and responsible mechanism to bring voters up to speed with what is going on in their state capital. However, the opening salvo in this debate is gutter politics at its best,” said Mr. Alper. “It appears that the Democratic Party has reduced itself to the typical gutter politics of the national Democratic Party. I hope, I pray and I implore the Democratic ticket to raise the conversation to a more respectful tone and a higher bar.”
A good alternative
But John Kalamarides, chair of the Democratic Town Committee, said Ms. Reeves presents a good alternative to Ms. Boucher.
“I think she has a wonderful record in town and good experience. She knows the ins and outs of government well,” said Mr. Kalamarides Tuesday. “She genuinely wants to do good for the community. She is able to reach across party lines. She has many friends that are Republicans and unaffiliated.”
Ms. Reeves said Tuesday she had to look over Ms. Boucher’s record in detail before she was prepared to comment on it. She said among the issues she would focus on would be public transportation and quality of life issues for Wiltonians and Norwalk residents in the district.
“We obviously need a train system on the Danbury line that’s the same as the main line,” said Ms. Reeves. “When you miss a train, you can’t wait three hours for the next train.”
With rising gas prices, “we just can’t keep using our cars when it’s going to be $4 or $5 a gallon,” she added.
On Monday, she said that since Ms. Boucher has come to Hartford “we still have the same Danbury line.”
Mr. Alper said that assertion was unfair to Ms. Boucher.
“I would remind her that during Toni’s tenure the Democratic-controlled legislature has shot down every proposal Toni has made to improve service on the Danbury line,” said Mr. Alper. “The Danbury line has been championed by Toni.”
He added that the Democratic legislature has been more focused on pushing through Super 7 than it has been on the Danbury rail line.
Ms. Reeves said the quality of life issue she referenced was that “people are concerned about their changing neighborhoods. They don’t have the same community feel, knowing neighbors and all.”
She said now was the time for her to run because “what I’ve accomplished as registrar of voters is done.”
“I think it’s a good year to get involved in politics. People seem more willing to cross party lines. They’re more open to looking at the candidate as a person rather than a party member,” said Ms. Reeves.
Mr. Kalamarides said there was a movement in the state to have a challenger for every post.
“Our feeling is that Republicans on every level are vulnerable, given the circumstances in Washington,” said Mr. Kalamarides.
While Ms. Reeves runs for the seat, she will remain a registrar. She said there were no statutes or constitutional provisions prohibiting her from remaining registrar while she ran.
“The last thing I wanted to do was leave my office in the lurch. I do intend to stay on as long as possible, certainly being aboveboard with everything,” said Ms. Reeves. She added she will have no duties whatsoever on Election Day in November, and that she will be “very sensitive” to citizen concerns over her dual roles.
Paul Burnham was the last Democrat to run against Ms. Boucher in 2004. He garnered 4,458 votes to Ms. Boucher’s 7,120 votes. Ms. Reeves said Mr. Burnham had gotten a late start in 2004 and she hoped to be more successful by kicking off her campaign earlier and that she was encouraged by the different voter totals this time around.
“There are definitely more unaffiliated in Norwalk and Wilton. I think those people aren’t going to vote any particular party line. I think that’s a change in the last four years,” said Ms. Reeves.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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