Independent Party in Granby Sees Support in First Election

There’s a reason they call it the two-party system – candidates and voters mostly stick to Democrats and Republicans. It simplifies things, concentrates power and allows for people to work together to get things done.

This year, in anticipation of the recent municipal election, a group of Granby residents organized to earn recognition as a third party, the Independent Party in Granby because, members said, things weren't getting done.

But by virtue of the fact that most voters and candidates fall neatly into the two-party system, third parties usually struggle to gain support. For its first election, members of the Independent Party in Granby are pleased with their results.

“There are a lot of people in the town here who are tired of the same old regime dominating, so I think we drew a lot of votes,” said Reinhard Maier, one of the Independent candidates.

Though none of the four candidates the party fronted earned a seat, “I think we did matter,” Maier said.

Maier was a candidate for the Board of Finance and earned 1,152 votes. Also on the ticket, Barbra Berkowitz earned 1,152 votes in her bid for the Planning and Zoning Commission and Douglas Maus got 804 votes, and Terry Wright, 729, for the Zoning Board of Appeals.

That was without much campaigning.

Maier said just to get recognized as a branch of the Independent Party, the Granby group went through a laborious process of paperwork and signatures, trips to the Capitol and to the Town Clerk.

Besides little time to campaign, the party faced other disadvantages that come with the third-party territory, Maier said.

Among them, ballot instructions tell voters to choose two or three candidates for each office, which dilutes the votes third parties do receive, if they don’t run a full slate.

Still, Maier said the party is pleased with the support it received and will try to build on that success by being a vocal part of discussions about Granby’s future, if only from the audience this year.

Barbara Berkowitz she would likely run again as an independent because the town needs some new ideas.

“I think Granby needs some people with ideas that will bring some industry to the town. The tax base is terrible… We’ve been going along the same way for the 42 years that I’ve lived here.”

She decided to run as an independent because while she felt she would be a good fit to serve the town, she didn’t feel either of the traditional parties was a good fit for her.

“I’m not thrilled with either party at this point. I’m my own thinker.”

And while Republican Scott Kuhnly received overwhelming support in his run for first selectman (the Independent party did not run a candidate), a substantial number of voters apparently were also attracted to Berkowitz’ independent thinking.

“We were very pleased with our numbers,” she said. “I was delighted …with the support from the people.”