The West Hartford Town Council met Tuesday night and re-elected Shari Cantor as mayor and named Deb Polun as the next deputy mayor.

By Ronni Newton

The agenda for the West Hartford Town Council’s Tuesday night meeting covered internal business only – swearing-in of members and election of officers – and prior to the seating of the 2025-2027 Council, testimonials were given to recognize the four outgoing councilors.

Democrat Shari Cantor was nominated by Ben Wenograd, the nomination was seconded by Barry Walters, and Cantor, who was the highest vote-getter in the 2025 municipal election, was unanimously re-elected president of the Town Council and retains the role of mayor for the 2025-2027 term. She has been on the Town Council since 2004, and has been mayor since 2016.

Deb Polun, who had the second-highest vote total in the Nov. 4 election, was nominated for vice president of the Town Council by Tiffani McGinnis, and seconded by Lisa Lazarus. She was elected unanimously and will become deputy mayor.

Newly-elected Republican John Lyons will be minority leader for the 2025-2027 term. The role is not part of the Town Council’s charter, but is traditionally selected by the minority party’s caucus. All three Republicans who were elected to the Town Council this fall – Lyons, Jason Wang, and Gayle Harris – are serving in the role for the first time.

During the first part of Tuesday’s meeting, before the new Council was sworn in, outgoing members had a chance to speak and also received praise from other councilors for their dedicated service.

West Hartford Fire Department Chief Greg Priest and Police Chief Vernon Riddick also spoke at the beginning of the meeting, giving special thanks to outgoing Democratic Council member Carol Blanks, who served three terms on the Council and as chair of the Public Safety Committee throughout her entire tenure.

“This is a hard night for all of us,” Cantor said. “It’s a tremendous commitment that everyone at this table makes. … I respect everybody up here that has volunteered to serve.”

Cantor shared a quote about each outgoing Council member – Republicans Alberto Cortes, Mary Fay, and Mark Zydanowicz, as well as Blanks. All of the other Council members also offered testimonials about each of their former colleagues, and all four departing members spoke as well.

Cortes said he never envisioned as a one-time high school dropout from Hartford that he would have been a West Hartford Town Council member, and said the “journey has been humbling.” He thanked the other Council members. “I have encountered very few true leaders in my life, and you are one of them,” he told Cantor. He also thanked Town Manager Rick Ledwith, and while he still sat at the table he asked Ledwith to please put a planter in the center of the roundabout on King Philip Drive.

Cortes, who served two terms, has become known as a voice for residents in need, always sharing information about food drives and the ability to drop off non-perishables and other necessities at West Hartford United Methodist Church, and said to continue that mission he has installed a “little food pantry” at North Main Street and Whitehill Drive.

“It’s hard to say goodbye,” said Fay, who has served four terms. “We agreed more than we disagreed,” she said, and although she often voted differently from other Council members, said she respected each and every one of them. “I’m extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish together,” she said. “I’m extremely proud. I’ve enjoyed and loved working with all of you.”

“I thank the residents of West Hartford for allowing me to serve for all these years,” said Zydanowicz, who was on the Board of Education for nine years prior to his two terms on the Town Council. He also thanked all of the town directors, each of the councilors, and his family for their support and understanding of his time commitment, and specifically praised Cantor for her role as the mayor. “Your heart’s in the right place, your leadership is incredible,” he said.

Blanks served and was chair of the Board of Education before beginning three terms on the Town Council, chairing the Public Safety Committee for all six years. She said she was touched by the surprise recognition from the police and fire department chiefs. “I admire them, I pray for them,” she said. She praised Ledwith for his always-calm demeanor, and thanked Corporation Counsel Dallas Dodge, Town Clerk Leon Davidoff, and each councilor for their support.

“I am humbled and grateful that God chose me for this journey,” Blanks said, and added her thanks to her family, the residents of West Hartford, and the town’s “impeccable staff.”

Following the seating of the new Council and election of leadership, Davidoff’s appointment as Council Clerk was also approved unanimously and committee assignments were announced.

The following are the committee assignments for the 2025-2027 Council:

Community Planning and Economic Development Committee (CPED)

• Chair: Tiffani McGinnis
• Vice Chair: Barry Walters
• Minority member: John Lyons

The committee shall have cognizance of all matters related to planning and zoning; code enforcement; economic development; and engineering.

Council Affairs and Governance Committee

• Chair: Shari Cantor
• Vice Chair: Deb Polun
• Minority member: John Lyons

The committee shall conduct the business affairs of the Town Council.  The committee shall have cognizance of matters related to the operation, organization, procedures, and rules of the Town Council.  The committee shall be responsible for the facilitation of positive relationships with the federal government, state government, other municipal governments and entities, and local boards and commissions.

Finance and Administration Committee (F&A)

• Chair: Deb Polun
• Vice Chair: Ben Wenograd
• Minority member: John Lyons

The committee shall have cognizance of all matters related to the operational budget and capital improvement program; appropriations to Board of Education, auditing and financial oversight; and general government operations (Assessment, Human resources, information technology, town clerk, registrar of voters, corporation counsel); and approval of the settlement of tax appeals negotiated by legal counsel and staff.

Human and Community Services Committee (HCS)

• Chair: Ben Wenograd
• Vice Chair: Lisa Lazarus
• Minority member: Jason Wang

The committee shall have cognizance of all matters related to leisure and social services; community development and federal/state block grant allocation; housing initiatives; library services; public health; and historic preservation.

Public Safety Committee ( PSC)

• Chair: Barry Walters
• Vice Chair: Tiffani McGinnis
• Minority member: Gayle Harris

The committee shall have cognizance of all matters related to oversight of police services; fire and emergency medical services; and emergency management.

Public Works and Facilities Committee (PW&F)

• Chair: Lisa Lazarus
• Vice Chair: Deb Polun
• Minority member: Gayle Harris

The committee shall have cognizance of all matters related to public works; cemetery operations; parking operations; plant and facilities management; waste management; energy management; and other sustainability initiatives.

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