Discovery Training Services

Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce sponsored a Candidates' Forum, October 15th at the Wallingford Senior Center. Discovery Training CEO, Christine Mansfield, moderated the event. The Record Jounral covered the packed agenda, which included presentations by Mayor Dickinson and thirteen of the Democratic and Republican candidates for Town Council.

WALLINGFORD - Business, specifically how to make the town more advantageous for its current businesses while at the same time attracting new ones, was the order of the day at the Wallingford Senior Center Thursday as the Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce hosted a candidate forum for the upcoming municipal elections.

Normally, according to Robin Wilson, the chamber's president, the forum only features mayoral candidates, but since Mayor William W. Dickinson, a Republican who has held office since 1984, is running unopposed this year the chamber decided to open the forum up to candidates running for spots on the Town Council as well.

"It gives them a flavor," Wilson said when asked why she believed the event was beneficial for local businesses and entrepreneurs. "We don't' normally do the council, so we thought this would be an educational opportunity to give our businesses a flavor of where the council is coming from."

But the more crowded than usual council ticket this year from both parties - the Democrats are running eight candidates for seats on the council this year, and the Republicans six, whereas in years past both parties have typically preferred to run only six candidates as the Town Charter dictates that no single party can hold more than six seats on the council at one time - led to a cramped dais and a lengthy period where each candidate introduced themselves, their platform, and answered a pre-selected question from moderator Christine Mansfield.

Democrat Jesse Reynolds and Republican Tom Laffin did not attend the forum.

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