GOP Mayoral Candidate Jacobson Says She Will Focus on the Past, the Present and the Future

Nick DeFelice, 19, says he wrestled for four years while he was at Montville High School, and never backed down from a fight.

"I have determination and spirit," he said Thursday, after the Republican Town Committee added him to their list of Town Council candidates for the November election.

DeFelice, who says he has always been a Republican, is a fourth-generation Montville resident. He graduated from Montville High School in 2010, and now works at Mohegan Sun in the Keno area.

In high school DeFelice was a state championship wrestler, and an all-ECC wrestler in 2010. He also is an artist, who showed in the Hygienic art show this year.

Donna Jacobson, chairman of the Town Council, was endorsed Thursday as the  Republicans' candidate for mayor.

"On a cold November evening 225 years ago," she said, in remarks after the endorsements had been made, "Montville was founded. There have been many changes, but the past lives with us. My intention is to focus on the past, the present and the future."

She talked about preserving Montville's historic buildings, and its historic relationship with the Mohegan Tribal Nation.

She said that in the present, she was talking about "streamlining government, minimizing taxes," and having "an openness to listen to all citizens and employees."

"As to our future," she said, 'Montville must have a strong, decisive leadership to guide us through the upcoming years."

Rosetta Jones, chairman of the Board of Assessment Appeals and a candidate for council, said that it was "truly a privilege to be here today."

"I am looking forward to working with the team, in a common purpose for a collective community."

She also spoke about the public access show she is launching on Channel 24. It is called "Town Matters," and the first installment will take place on Aug. 4. The show will be in an interview format, she said; representatives from WildRose Horse Farm are the first guests.

Dave Rollins, who is the chairman of the Board of Education and a candidate for another term, also spoke.

"The School Board spends $36 million of the taxpayers' money" every year, he said. "I think it's important to keep the Republican majority."

He also spoke about a television show that he runs, "Eye on Education," which plays on Channel 22. "The two are going to dovetail nicely," he said.

James Andriote Sr. is a candidate for Town Council, and the head of the Independence for Montville party, which has nominated the same slate of candidates as the Republicans.He discussed the groups' connections, and suggested that they come up with a name for their alliance. 

He praised Jacobson's work with the council.

Here is the list of candidates the Republican Town Committee endorsed Thursday:

Mayor

• Donna Jacobson

Town Council

• James Andriote Sr.
• Ellen Hillman
• Rosetta Jones
• Mari Jurcyk
• Dana McFee
• Leon Moore
• Nick DeFelice

Board of Education

• Robert Mitchell Jr.
• David Rowley

 Zoning Board of Appeals

• Elmer Wittofske
• Tom McNally

Board of Assessment Appeals

• Shirley Morphis

To read about the Democrats' caucus, click here.

To read about the Independence for Montville endorsements, click here.