Bartram will run for first selectman

SHARON — Tom Bartram, 55, has entered the race for first selectman. A Democrat, he is running against Republican Bob Loucks.

Both men are “native sons� of Sharon. Bartram has been on the Board of Selectmen for long enough that he can’t quite remember how long it’s been.

“Oh, about 18 years, I think, with a two-year break in there somewhere,� he said in an interview at his office at Herrington’s in Lakeville, where he is an architectural rep. He has been with the company for 12 years and was with its predecesor, Community Lumber, since 1973.

Bartram and Loucks are seeking the office that will be vacated by Malcolm Brown, who has been first selectman for the past four years (two terms).  Bartram had considered running for first selectman before but stepped down when Brown announced his candidacy. At that time, he said, his work commitments were heavier, and it would have been more difficult to continue at his day job while working at Town Hall.

“Herringtons is going to allow me to do consulting,� he said, which will allow him more time tor his municipal duties. Also, he said, these days “I do a lot of my work on cell phone and computer.�

If elected, Bartram will be first selectman at a time of serious fiscal constraints. The economy is tight, but the town is doing several infrastructure projects. The sewer system is getting an upgrade, the town is preparing to build a new recycling-and-transfer station with Salisbury and there are plans afoot to expand the Hotchkiss Library and modernize the dog pound.

“We are fortunate in Sharon that we have a very active Board of Finance that keeps a good eye on the town,� he said. “The coming years might not be easy. But we will be able to work things out together.�

One of the first tasks that Bartram expects to deal with if he is elected is evaluations for town employees. In this budget season, he said, it was noted that there is no way to evaluate the performance of town workers. A system is being put in place now to do so.

In most Connecticut towns, the losing candidate for first selectman can still be elected as a regular selectman — if he has more votes than the other candidates. But in Sharon, a candidate running for first selectman can only become first selectman. If Bartram gets fewer votes than Loucks, he will not be on the board at all. If Loucks gets fewer votes than Bartram, he will not be on the board.

The Sharon Democratic Town Committee has plans to nominate a candidate for the board but has not announced a name yet. At this point, Republican John Mathews is expected to run for office again.

Bartram noted another quirk: In Connecticut, every three-person Board of Selectmen has to have at least one Democrat and one Republican. This is called the minority representation rule. If each of the town committees nominates one candidate and if no one petitions for a seat on the board, then the two nominated candidates are automatically elected.

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