Leading Sprague Forward
November 2, 2023
Please vote this Tuesday, November 7th, 2023. The polls will be open 6:00am until 8:00pm at the Sayles School. If you need a ride to the polls, please contact Sprague RTC Chairman, Michael Meadows at 860-389-4020.
Sprague Republicans
Real Leadership. Proven Results.
This coming Tuesday, we are once again asking for your vote on Row B, for our Sprague Republican endorsed team. Your leadership team is comprised of your friends and neighbors, who have the future of Sprague in your best interest.
Our bi-partisan team includes Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, and Unaffiliated candidates, who will continue to lead our town forward.
On Tuesday, November 7th, Vote Row B, Sprague’s Team!
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Improved bond rating from Baa3 to Baa2, due to improved management practices.
(Source- Moody’s Investors Service on August 3, 2023.)
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Sold 41A West Main Street apartment building and returned it to the tax rolls, while eliminating risk while returning a net profit of $174,000.
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Fostered harmonious working relationships between and within town staff, boards and commissions regardless of political affiliations.
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Eliminating Fund Balance Deficits leftover from previous administration.
First Selectman
Cheryl Allen Blanchard
I am proud to be a lifelong resident of Sprague. Five generations of my family have been born and raised here. My husband, Bill, and I have raised our four children here. They all attended Sayles School and participated in various Sprague activities such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Little League. I have nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
I have served as Sprague’s First Selectman since November of 2019.
Prior to that, I was a member of the Board of Selectmen from 2013 through 2019. I have always felt strongly about serving my community. From 1998 to 2012 I served on the Sprague Board of Education, holding the position of Chairman from 2003 to 2012. Since 2018 I have served as a member of the Integrated Day Charter School Governing Board and held the position of Chairman from 2018 to 2022.
I was employed by Dime Bank as a Financial Advisor from 1997 to 2019. Many of the skills and knowledge that I used in that role have been very helpful here in Sprague. I look forward to continuing to serve as your First Selectman and working with all of you to ensure that Sprague continues to grow and move forward.
Board of Selectmen
Joan Charron Nagle
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Lifelong Sprague Resident
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45 years Banking/Finance experience
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Vice-President - Dime Bank 1998 - 2023 (retired)
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Former Sprague Board of Selectman Member
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Former Sprague Board of Finance Member
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Former Board Chair Bethsaida Community (woman’s homeless shelter)
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Former Board Member Senior Resources/Agency on Aging
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Instructor Center for Financial Training
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Advisory Board member National Bone Marrow Foundation
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Two successful adult daughters and their families
Board of Assessment Appeals
Michael P. Meadows
Hello friends and neighbors, my name is Michael P. Meadows, and I am asking for your vote this coming Tuesday, for the Board of Assessment Appeals.
I have lived in Sprague for over 30 years, growing up in Versailles, and currently residing in Baltic with my wife, Annalise. I am a 1989 graduate of Sayles School, and a 1993 graduate of St. Bernard High School in Uncasville. I have a wonderful 18-year old son, Trent, and am the proud pet father to Boomer, Sam, and Knick.
A commitment to public service has been a part of my family’s history for decades. My late father Edward “Buddy” Meadows, and my mother Geraldine, have participated and served in various capacities since the mid 1980’s. In 2016, I had my first opportunity to serve our town on the Sprague Board of Education through a vacancy on the board.
In 2017, I was elected to the Sprague Board of Finance, where over the first two years, I was met with many challenges. Fortunately, over the remainder of my term, I had the opportunity to take part in Sprague’s revival, working with a competent bi-partisan team. As my term on the Board of Finance winds down in a few days, I am once again eager to serve our community on the Board of Assessment Appeals.
I am currently employed by the Connecticut House Republican Caucus, and serve as a press secretary to State Representatives Doug Dubitsky, Mark DeCaprio, Brian Lanoue, Anne Dauphinais, Rick Hayes, and Irene Haines. I also serve as the 19th District Representative for the Connecticut Republican State Central Committee, Executive Director of the House Republican Campaign Committee, and it has been my pleasure to serve as the Sprague Republican Town Committee Chairman since 2015.
I am a sports enthusiast (go Jets), who loves to cook for others, and enjoy my time with friends and family.
I love our small town and feel honored to have had the opportunities that I have had to make Sprague a better place to live.
Board of Education
Corinne Topalis
The Board of Education provides the education oversight for school-age children in Sprague.
Hi, my name is Corinne Topalis and I am seeking another term on the Board of Education. My husband and I have raised our family in Sprague and our children have all been students at Sayles School. I have spent countless hours volunteering in classroom, participating in the PTO, and being a co-chair of the School Readiness Council.
I have seen first hand the things that our school district does really well, and also what we could improve. I have spent the past six years working diligently with my colleagues on the Board of Education to improve transparency and our relationships with our town leaders and Board of Finance. We have strived to keep our spending under budget while keeping in focus the needs of our students.
While we have a ways to go, I look forward to serving the next four years as I have the last six. Putting the needs of the children of Sprague first.
Board of Education
Will Mather
Hi, I’m William Mather, a proud resident of Sprague, CT, originally hailing from East Lyme. I moved here five years ago when I met my wife, Shannon, who has lived here most of her life.
I am the General Manager of the West Main St Dairy Queen in Norwich, and I, along with my wife, are gaining all of the business knowledge as we transition to owners in the near future. We have two beautiful daughters and we love raising them in this small town setting. Balancing family and business has instilled in me a strong sense of responsibility to be an active stakeholder in our community. This calling led me to join the incredibly effective Sprague Republican Party, and now, I’m running for a position on our Board of Education.
My Goals:
• Advocate for Curriculum Relevance: I want to make sure our educational curriculum is tailored to meet the unique needs and future aspirations of our kids in Sprague.
• Parental Agency: As a parent, I believe strongly in the right of parents to have a voice in their children’s education. I’ll work to ensure that all parents have that opportunity.
• Community-Centric Approach: I believe the people who live and work in our community know what’s best for it.
Education should reflect our community’s values, not just dictates handed down from Hartford.
I’m not just another name on a ballot; I’m your neighbor, a fellow parent, and operate a local business and I understand the challenges and opportunities facing our educational system. I hope to earn your vote to serve on the Sprague Board of Education.
Board of Finance
Paul Copenhagen
Over Memorial Day weekend in 2016, I packed my car and headed north to a quiet little community in New London County called Sprague, and I never looked back. My wife and I got married in 2018, and when we bought a house, we chose a lovely home in Baltic that was up for sale. I've never been one to merely let life pass me by. In the intervening years, I began to attend town meetings. I listened to the concerns of my neighbors, family members, and people I've come to call friends as they talked about issues and difficulties in the town.
When asked, I stepped in to fill a vacancy on the Board of Finance in the middle of the pandemic lockdowns in 2020. After the former Chairwoman of the Board of Finance stepped down and moved away, the Board elected me to fill that position, and I was glad to serve my town and neighbors in that capacity. For the last two years, I have served Sprague as a Selectman along with Cheryl Blanchard and Glenn Cheney.
I have never shied away from being involved in my community or serving others. The Town of Sprague has a lot of good, dedicated people that care about this town, and I consider myself one of them. I look forward to serving all my neighbors with an eye toward fiscal responsibility, honest and open government, and reasonable discourse.
Board of Finance
Eddy P. Desrosiers
I have been a resident of Baltic for more than fifteen years, having been born and raised in the town of Griswold. I am married and have two children and four grandchildren.
I am a graduate of the UConn School of Business and have been self-employed as a manufacturer’s representative for the data telecommunication industry for more than thirty years.
My interest in being re-elected to the Board of Finance is to be an involved member of our community. My goal will always be to ensure that the town of Sprague maintains fiscal stability and accountability while striving to provide the services needed.
Planning And Zoning Commission
Barbara Richardson Crouch
Barbara Richardson Crouch has a BA in Political Science/English and an MBA from the University of Mississippi, and an Associates of Applied Sciences in Accounting from Three Rivers Community College.
Barbara has an extensive career in Business Development; Angel Funding for Technology Start-ups; Finance; Communication; Training. Barbara currently serves as the Secretary of the ISAAC School Board, Registrar of Voters, Certified Election Official and Justice of the Peace. Barbara was an active Rotarian for 10 years having served as President of the Niantic Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Award Recipient.
Barbara has combined her skills in the public and private sector to focus on economic justice and elimination of poverty. She currently serves as the Senior Director of Marketing and Development for Thames Valley Council for Community Action, Southeastern Connecticut's poverty fighting agency.
She is a football fanatic and lives with her husband, Jeff, and two children in Sprague. In her spare time, Barbara enjoys hiking, camping and outdoor activities.
Planning And Zoning Commission
Annalise Meadows
Hello, my name is Annalise Meadows and I am a candidate for Planning and Zoning.
I was born and raised in Enfield, Connecticut and am a 2001 graduate of Enrico Fermi High School. In 2012, I graduated nursing school, and I am currently continuing my career as a nurse, with a background in home health and long-term care.
I moved into Sprague in 2012 with my husband, Michael. I currently serve as the Sprague Republican Town Committee secretary.
I decided to run for Planning & Zoning to continue my service to our community. I love the direction our town is going, and I am eager to be part of its long-term success.
This Tuesday, I hope to earn your vote.
Planning And Zoning Commission
Mark McCorkle
I am a 42-year-old resident of Sprague for the past eight years. I am a veteran with an honorable discharge from the Connecticut Army National Guard, where i served for six years as an E4 specialist.
Professionally, I am employed at Municipal Emergency Services (previously known as Shipmans Fire Equipment) for approximately two years, as a fire suppression technician.
In addition to my military and professional achievements, I am an active volunteer with Boys Scouts Troop 34 out of Windham Center for the past two years, and Cub Scout Pack 35 for four years.
I live in Baltic with my wife, Kathy, and have two sons, Shane and Ethan.
I am running for Planning & Zoning to serve our town, and to help our town achieve success in the future.
Contact
Sprague Republican Town Committee
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