Council sends $511 million school rebuild to November voters

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  The Enfield Town Council voted unanimously to approve a $511 million school project, supported by an $89 million town share. Voters will have final say in November.  The Town Council voted Wednesday unanimously to send a $511 million plan to Enfield voters to rebuild the town's elementary school system. The town's cost is $89 million, and that's what voters will be asked to approve in November. The plan builds four new PK-5 schools on the sites of Hazardville Memorial, Prudence Crandall, Edgar H. Parkman and Henry Barnard, and converts Eli Whitney into a new home for Eagle Academy. Work runs in two phases. The entire project will take seven to eight years. Mayor Gina Cekala said Enfield doesn't have much choice. "$89 million is a lot of money. It sounds like a lot of money. It is a lot of money," she said. But she put the town's share in proportion. Of the $511 million, "Enfield is going to be responsible for a maximum of 17% of this project."...
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Enfield Democrats Surge in Fundraising as GOP Treads Water

 

A recent protest in Enfield, part of the nationwide "Good Trouble Lives On," in honor this month of the late Congressman John Lewis. More than 1,600 rallies were held nationwide. 


The local Democrats are off to a good start in fundraising for this year’s local election.

In the second quarter of this year, the Enfield Democratic Town Committee raised $13,911 from April through June—outpacing Republicans nearly 9-to-1, according to state campaign finance filings.

The Enfield Republican Town Committee raised just $1,583 during the same period.

Democrats began the quarter with a negative balance of –$1,294, but raised enough to erase their debts and finish with $7,092 in the bank.

Republicans hold the cash advantage

Despite the strong Democratic quarter, Republicans still hold a cash-on-hand advantage, thanks to a $12,911 reserve they carried into the quarter. They ended the period with $14,300 in the bank.

But when it comes to momentum and new donor activity, Democrats clearly have the upper hand for now.

This early fundraising snapshot suggests that local Democrats are more energized and better organized than they were two years ago. Still, the Republican committee remains well-funded and organized. They have time to catch up. 

Can the Democrats win?

Possibly.

In 2021, their townwide sweep may have been boosted by backlash against Donald Trump—especially in the wake of the January 6 Capitol attack. Anti-Trump sentiment runs deep in Enfield. One protest in town that year drew as many as 700 people, a remarkable turnout for a town this size.

How hot are local issues?

National politics aside, local frustrations could play a big role in turnout.

Property taxes remain a flashpoint, but education may be the more potent issue. Some voters feel Republican leadership has gone too far—either by cutting too much or failing to prioritize school funding. And the tone of local GOP leaders—often combative and confrontational—may alienate moderate voters and provoke its own form of backlash. But the Republican approach may appeal to tax-sensitive voters.  

This year’s races will say a lot—not just about Enfield’s politics, but about what kind of leadership style voters are willing to support.
Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA

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