Mae Flexer

Sen. Flexer and Rep. Boyd Lead Passage of BOE Elections Bill, a Win for Brooklyn Voters

HARTFORD—Senator Mae Flexer (D-Danielson) and Representative Patrick Boyd (D-Brooklyn) led passage of a bill that will restore competition and voter choice in the Town of Brooklyn’s board of education elections. Senate Bill 413 places Brooklyn in compliance with other statutory towns regarding its Board of Education.

Brooklyn currently selects its board of education based on a special act from 1929 that is now dated and open to challenge. The bill corrects this deficiency and ensures that the election, number and terms of the members of the Brooklyn Board comply with Connecticut General Statutes.The bill also allows for the first selectman to continue serving in that office for a period of time after the election. Currently, the keys of town hall literally have to be turned over when a new person is elected.

After town officials on both sides of the aisle reached out to their Brooklyn state legislators asking for the state to change the outdated law, Sen. Flexer and Rep. Boyd led passage of Senate Bill 413 in the state Senate and House of Representatives, respectively.

“I was happy to fight for voters in Brooklyn and lead passage of this sensible legislation that will allow for competition in the elections of the town’s board of education and restore choice for voters,” Sen. Flexer said. “I am grateful for the advocacy of First Selectman Rick Ives and former First Selectman Austin Tanner to make this change and ensure Brooklyn elections give voters a choice just like other towns.”

“Over the last decade both Democratic and Republican first selectmen in Brooklyn have asked for this commonsense change of the state statutes. I am proud to have led its passage through the House of Representatives and pleased this issue is finally settled,” Rep. Boyd said

The bill passed the Senate unanimously on May 2 and passed the House142- 7 on May 9. It now must be signed by the governor to become law.