UPDATED: A New Political Party In Montville

By Jessie King and M. Dirk Langeveld

Montville Town Councilor Rosetta Jones says a new party is available to those in Montville seeking elected office in town.

Jones, who is the only unaffiliated member of the Town Council, needed to meet signature requirements for a reservation of party designation with the Connecticut Secretary of State in order to form the Smart Choice party. She also needed to collect signatures equal to one percent of the approximately 3,400 voters participating in the 2011 municipal election to satisfy a nomination petition once the designation was received.

"I'm very excited to announce all requirements have been certified. Connecticut has a new political party, 'Smart Choice Party,' and Montville voters will have the option on November 5th ballot!" Jones said in an e-mail.

Jones said she felt the Republicans' decision against endorsing her was due to her support of discontinuing health benefits for the registrars of voters and her stance against allocating additional funds for the Board of Education. She said the decision to form a separate party was also based on her opinion that residents "rely and respect my ability to make objective, fair and informed decisions on matters that impact their daily lives."

Jones said she will not run a negative campaign and that a party website is under construction at smartchoiceparty.com. 

"The basic objectives of the 'Smart Choice Party' is a fair-minded approach to focus in the important issues from a knowledge based perspective," she said.