Finally entering the fray

Three seek Ridgefield selectman seat

Written by Kate Czaplinski, Press Staff
Saturday, 27 November 2010 06:20

Marty Heiser

Maureen Kozlark

Jan Rifkinson

At least three candidates — a longtime Board of Finance leader with GOP backing, a former school board member who served nearly a decade, and a vocal spending critic who decided to “get out from behind the computer” — are applying to fill the vacant seat on the Board of Selectmen, left by Joan Plock’s resignation.

First Selectman Rudy Marconi said a few other Ridgefielders have voiced interest, but so far, the board is scheduled to interview finance board member Marty Heiser, former schoo board member Maureen Kozlark and Jan Rifkinson, who is a regular at board meetings and vocal on town issues.

They will be interviewed publicly at the Wednesday, Dec. 1 meeting, Mr. Marconi said. The selectmen are expected to choose a replacement the same night to meet a 30-day satuatory deadline ending Dec. 5. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. in the town hall large conference room.

Mr. Heiser, a 14-year member of the Board of Finance and local weekly television show host, was supported unanimously by the Republican Town Committee last Thursday.

“I feel honored and humbled by the endorsement and prepared to serve if the sitting Board of Selectmen members so decide,” Mr. Heiser said.

The GOP committee formed a five-member subcommittee to find the right candidate to recommend. Ms. Plock, who resigned for health reasons, was a member. Before voting for Mr. Heiser the committee named Ms. Plock a permanent ex-officio member and touted her many accomplishments through the years.

GOP Town Chairman James Carroll said the group’s goal was to not makes this “a political situation,” but chose a candidate who was best for Ridgefield. Mr. Carroll said Mr. Heiser’s experience meant “zero learning curve” and ability to jump in and see the town through the upcoming budget season and continued economic difficulties.

“Marty has the experience of town budgets and has demonstrated collaborative work not only within the town government, but additionally outside the town organizations for various town related causes,” Mr. Carroll said.

Mr. Heiser served as finance chair for 12 of his 14 years. He ran a losing campaign against Rudy Marconi for the first selectman seat in 2003.

He has coached youth hockey, girl’s youth lacrosse and basketball in town and still serves as a hockey referee. He is also on the Boys & Girls Club board and Ridgefield Young Life board. Among his accomplishments serving the town, he said he was proud to be part of Lounsbury Farm land acquisition through “development rights,” Tiger Hollow project, Ridgefield Playhouse development and open space acquisitions.

If appointed a Republican would have to be chosen by the Board of Finance to fill his seat.

Republican Maureen Kozlark applied for the position through Mr. Marconi’s office, and did not appear before the GOP town committee. Ms. Kozlark served nine years on the school board.
“It was the November election that inspired me, with everyone working so hard, my civic duty kicked in and I decided to throw my hat in the ring,” Ms. Kozlark said.

Ms. Kozlark, a full-time Realtor, has been involved in a number of organizations in town through the years, including RACE and efforts to make Ridgefield an “anti-idling town.” She also teaches catechism at St. Mary’s.

“Just in general, I’m a hard-working board member — I do my homework, learn the different issues so I can speak to them at the meetings,” she said.

Despite some initial confusion with the Board of Selectmen appointment process, town counsel found that State Statute allows for unaffiliated voters or those registered with small parties to apply for the seat. Ms. Plock was a Republican, but unlike other elected town boards she does not have to be replaced with a Republican.

That attracted Ridgefielder Jan Rifkinson, who is unaffiliated.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while and a number of people had suggested I run and others said ‘get out from behind your computer’ and see what it’s really like,” said Mr. Rifkinson, who is active commenter on town issues on the Ridgefield Forum and usually in attendance at board meetings.

Mr. Rifkinson has lived in town for 12 years, served on the Charter Revision Commission a few years ago and is retired from a career in television where his credits included working as director and producer with Good Morning America and 20/20.

He became a vocal spending critic a few years back, before the economic collapse. During the last few years he has asked questions, done the research and learned a lot along the way, he said.

“Ridgefield is a lovely town and I think everyone tries very hard and I like everyone involved,” Mr. Rifkinson said. “At one point it was a little town and now it’s a big corporation, a $120 million corporation — we have outgrown some of our little town ways of doing things.”

He said he is grateful for all the hard work the Board of Selectmen does and he believes he brings an entirely different perspective from current members.

“I think I might bring an opportunity to take a different look at some of the problems before us,” Mr. Rifkinson said. “I bring my own personality and my own sense of questioning — I’m retired so I have more time, I don’t have a constituency and I think that’s good. I don’t have kids in the schools, no business in town. My focus is sort of town-wide rather than one particular thing.”

More than anything, Mr. Rifkinson said he is excited with what he sees as a very “democratic” process for choosing a new board member.

“First of all, I wish there were more candidates and second of all I hope the room is packed,” Mr. Rifkinson said. “It’s an opportunity for people who have not started in through normal paths to get into town government — I think that’s very good.”

If the Board of Selectmen fail to choose a new member by Dec. 5, according to statute, the town clerk would ask Republicans elected to town boards to choose a replacement.

Mr. Marconi has not set a deadline for interested applicants. They can contact his office at 203-431-2774 before the Dec. 1 meeting.