With First Selectman David Bindelglass at the top of the ticket, the Easton Democratic Town Committee (DTC) unanimously selected its slate of candidates for the town-wide November elections at its caucus on Monday, July 24 at the Easton Public Library.
“The expertise, experience and energy on this slate of candidates is truly remarkable,” said DTC Chair Nanette DeWester. “When accomplished citizens with credentials like these step forward to run, the whole community wins. They bring not only life experience as physicians, business leaders, teachers, attorneys, librarians, and professionals in their own fields, but also a deep understanding of what makes our town special and a shared dedication to ensuring Easton remains a well-run, welcoming town.”
An orthopedic surgeon who served previously on the Board of Education, Bindelglass was elected first selectman in 2019 to lead the first Democrat-led Board of Selectmen with a Democratic majority in 30 years. He was re-elected in 2021.
In their nominating speeches, State Representative Anne Hughes and Debbi Barer both praised Bindelglass for making it easier for Easton residents to work with the town and cited his strong record of preserving open spaces and farms, providing services to seniors, and his commitment to maintaining Easton’s top-tier schools. Both also praised Bindelglass’s reputation for bringing people together for the good of the town in an era of political divisiveness.
Hughes cited Bindelglass’s strong track record of collaborating with state and federal partners to ensure that Easton receives grant funding, resources and services for local improvement and preservation projects, as well as the critical need for his continued leadership on major initiatives to maintain senior services and construct a new EMS building.
“Dr. Bindelglass has raised the bar on what responsive, accountable and inclusive government looks like and I am so honored to nominate him for a third successful term as our First Selectman,” Hughes said.
Bob Lessler, who will retire from his selectman role after 24 years, nominated Nick D’Addario for the board, citing his leadership expertise as a CEO with deep roots in the area and his commitment to local community organizations.
“I’m pleased to nominate Nick and I intend to work very hard to make sure he replaces me on the Board of Selectmen,” Lessler said. “A lawyer by training, he runs a family energy business that has been a fixture in the area for decades. He lives our Democratic values by giving back to his community, as with his work on board of the Child and Family Guidance Center. That’s what it means to dedicate yourself to a community. That’s what we want in our next Democratic selectman.”
The DTC nominated incumbent Board of Finance Chair Art Laske for re-election, along with Michael Gutowski, an eight-year Easton resident and an accountant in private and public accounting. He presently serves on the board as an alternate.
Nominating Laske, David Smith emphasized Laske’s effectiveness as chair of the Board of Finance, as well as his extensive knowledge of the workings of town departments and his support for the schools, the Senior Center and the Park and Recreation Department. “Art’s ability to bring this board together is a real demonstration of leadership that benefits everyone in town,” Smith said.
For the local Easton Board of Education, the DTC endorsed Beth Natt, a pediatrician who also holds a Master of Public Health degree and MBA from Yale University, and is the mother of four children in the Easton schools.
Incumbent Karen O’Brien was endorsed for another term on the Region 9 Board of Education, along with Jon Stinson who currently serves on the Easton Board of Education.
Other candidates endorsed by the committee to run in the municipal elections include incumbent Scott Charmoy for Board of Assessment Appeals; Leny Wallen-Friedman for Board of Zoning Appeals; Renee Neiger for library board; Whendi Cook Broderick for town clerk; and incumbent constables Raymond Martin III, David Katz and Irv Silverman.
