Westport’s Republican Town Committee has recommended three persons to fill the unexpired term of a resigning Republican member of the Board of Education.
Party Chairman Peter Wolgast said his group recommended Richard Chappo, Dewey Loselle, and James Marpe to fill out the term of Mark Owades who has announced his intention to resign from the board in March. (See WestportNow Jan. 18, 2005)
Under the Westport Town Charter, the remaining members of the Board of Education have the sole responsibility of replacing him. Since Owades was elected as a Republican, the Town Charter calls for his replacement to be a registered Republican.
Typically, in this type of situation the remaining members of the Board of Education choose someone who is recommended by the town committee of the party to which the resigning member belongs, according to Wolgast.
The Republican Town Committee recommended the candidates unanimously at its meeting Tuesday night, acting on the advice of a Nominating Committee chaired by Otis Crawford, according to Wolgast.
The Board of Education plans to interview candidates in early March and presumably will select a candidate to replace Owades by mid-March, he said.
The term for the new Board of Ed member will expire in November. It is expected that whoever is selected will run for a full four-year term in the November election, the party chairman said.
“The RTC is extremely pleased to be able to recommend three highly qualified candidates to the Board of Ed for their consideration,” Wolgast said.
“Each of these men is outstanding and each has the capacity to be an excellent member of the Board of Ed. The fact that all three were endorsed unanimously is a tribute to the respect that the RTC has for them as individuals.”
