Editorial: A legal victory with complications

The Connecticut Superior Court ruling Tuesday validated State Rep. John Santanella's complaint. This is a clear win, and allows him to avoid an August 11 Democratic primary against his challenger, former town attorney Tom Tyler. Tyler can appeal, but absent that, Santanella can shift his focus to November. But a winning legal outcome is not the same as a winning narrative outcome. This was an honest mistake by the Tyler campaign, a consequence of some flawed official guidance and a decision to rely on that guidance. The court found that the Democratic registrar provided petition sheets four days before state law allowed, and that the state-supplied forms lacked a legally required statement from circulators on the number of signatures gathered — a defect that invalidated all of Tyler's petitions. The ruling also notes that there was no evidence the Tyler campaign exercised due diligence to confirm the official guidance. Connecticut election law doesn't allow for honest mista...
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Enfield's Big Week Ahead: New Council, Hearing on Enfield Square

 

Enfield Town Hall, November, 2025 


The new Town Council will be officially seated at an organizational meeting Monday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. It will have eight Democrats and three Republicans. There will be seven women on the council, likely one of the highest representations in Enfield’s history.

The council will choose a mayor at this meeting. (See appendix)

Democratic members
Newcomers: Linda Allegro, Zach Zannoni, Maya Nicole Matthews, Aaron Thomas.
Returning: Gina Cekala, Bob Cressotti, Cynthia Mangini, State Rep. John Santantella.

Republican members
State Rep. Carol Hall, who previously served on the Town Council; Marie Pyznar and Lori Unghire, who are returning members.

Other than to get sworn in and select a mayor, the new council is unlikely to conduct any other significant business at this meeting. That will happen at an expected meeting Nov. 17.

Planning and Zoning Commission hearing on Enfield Square

The PZC will hold a hearing on a plan Thursday at 7 p.m., to redevelop the 72.5 acre Enfield Square site. The mall will be demolished and replaced with a mixed use development that will include 475 dwelling units, and the rest commercial development. Link to agenda.

Woodsonia Acquisitions, the developer, is seeking approvals that will allow it to create a mixed use development. Specifically, the development is seeking approval for a special development district that will give it flexibility in the types of tenants and uses. The range of allowed uses in this zone include hotel, offices, theater and entertainment, retail, medical offices, financial institutions, restaurants, and other uses associated with mixed use development.

PZC members have had some back-and-forth discussions with the developer over the amount of open space and types of uses on the property. The Town Council has approved tax incentives and the state is contributing $10 million toward the site development.

Appendix




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