12 Vying For 9 West Hartford Council Seats [The Hartford Courant]

Oct. 30--WEST HARTFORD -- Six Republicans, two of them incumbents, and six incumbent Democrats are vying for nine town council seats in the Nov. 5 election.

Chief concerns among the Republicans are the town's underfunded pension liability and rising taxes.

Minority leader Denise Hall said she's running for a third term to "help influence" future employee contracts "that call for benefits that are no longer sustainable."

Hall, 53, is senior vice president and treasury sales manager for Webster Bank. She previously served on the town's risk management advisory board, investment advisory committee and veterans memorial committee.

Republican incumbent Burke Doar</person>, 50, said his manufacturing background is the basis of his cost-saving ideas.

"I support investing in [capital equipment] that would bring more productivity," he said. "I think we can bring that innovation to municipal government; I'm passionate about that."

The vice president of sales and marketing at TRUMPF Inc., Doar was first appointed to the council in May 2011.

New names on the ballot are Republicans Chris Barnes, Ted Pease, Dennis Swanton and Tad Bistor.

Like Hall, Barnes, a 44-year-old lawyer with Reardon Scanlon Vodola LLP, said he will seek hybrid or 401(k)-style pension plans in future union contracts. He said serving on the town's risk management advisory board has opened his eyes to the town's fiscal challenges.

Pease, 46, said that in addition to reigning in spending, he hopes to improve communication between the police department and residents so "crime waves" like a recent spate of burglaries, can be prevented.

Pease is a real estate analyst for Aetna and serves on the board of assessment appeals.

Swanton, 48, said his aggravation "with the lack of attention to traffic safety in town," especially drivers who text and speed through neighborhoods, prompted his council bid.

"I think it's kind of a three-prong effort: enforcement, education and engineering," said Swanton, a corporate accounts manager at Kimberly-Clark who sits on the town's fair rent commission.

Bistor, 46 and a lawyer, said he is the only candidate who lives south of Boulevard and wants to give a voice to residents in that area.

Bistor said he supports "smart growth in our business sectors" and believes the town should decide how much to spend based on revenues, not raise taxes to meet expenses.

The Democrats all said they hope to continue working together to help shape the future of the town through several upcoming development opportunities, including a hotel being built in the town's Center, the University of Connecticut's plans to vacate its property and plans to turn the Sisters of St. Joseph convent into apartments.

"I felt a responsibility to try and be at the table with all of what's going to be before us in the next two years," said Scott Slifka, 39, the town's longest-serving mayor.

Slifka was first elected to the council in 2001 and became mayor in 2004. He is the corporate counsel for Lego Systems Inc.

Deputy Mayor Shari Cantor, 53, was first appointed to the council in 2004. A self-described "strong advocate for seniors," Cantor said having parents in their 80s living in town, as well as four sons, gives her a unique perspective.

Cantor is a full-time volunteer on several boards including the University of Connecticut's board of trustees and that of the Greater Hartford Jewish Federation.

Harry Captain, 50 and second vice president at Travelers, is running for his second elected term. He was appointed to the council in March 2011 and served on the school board for eight years.

"I've always served during tough financial times, and we did well when times were tough. Now that times are getting better, I want to be involved with and experience what we can do when times are good," he said.

Judy Casperson, 54, is vice president and manager of the TD Bank branch in West Hartford Center. She said she is passionate about human services and urged voters to re-elect the incumbents.

"I think that you really need a slate of people who understand where we've been and where we're going," said Casperson, who was first elected in 2009.

Leon Davidoff, 51, has served three terms on the council and previously chaired the plan and zoning commission. Davidoff is the co-owner of The Paper Station, a stationery store in Newington.

"One of my primary concerns is to make certain that the town continues to attract smart economic development proposals," he said. "They have to be environmentally friendly, architecurally attractive, economically significant and in harmony with the character of our community."

Clare Kindall, 52, is an assistant attorney general. She has served on the council since 2011 and was previously chairwoman of the school board.

Kindall said she hopes to make the town more bicycle friendly, as well as "encourage solar development" and develop microgrids.

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