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New Council Takes Office, with Education as Top Priority

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Council members congratulate Enfield’s new mayor, Gina Cekala, at the Town Council’s Nov. 10, 2025 meeting. From left are Republicans Lori Unghire and Marie Pyznar, and joining by video, State Rep. Carol Hall. Democrats, from left, are Cynthia Mangini, Bob Cressotti, Mayor Gina Cekala, Deputy Mayor and State Rep. John Santanella, Linda Allegro, Maya Nicole Matthews, Aaron Thomas, and Zach Zannoni. The new Enfield Town Council took office Monday night, six days after a landslide Democratic victory that unseated the Republican majority, opening its term with a commitment to education funding and a promise of unity. Gina Cekala, an attorney and seven-term councilmember, was unanimously elected mayor after being nominated by Councilmember newcomer Maya Nicole Matthews, who called the moment “a turning point” for Enfield and praised women’s leadership in local government. “People are tired of drama and division,” Matthews said. “Women in Enfield turned out to vote in record numbers, and b...
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Enfield's Big Week Ahead: New Council, Hearing on Enfield Square

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  Enfield Town Hall, November, 2025  The new Town Council will be officially seated at an organizational meeting Monday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. It will have eight Democrats and three Republicans. There will be seven women on the council, likely one of the highest representations in Enfield’s history. The council will choose a mayor at this meeting. (See appendix) Democratic members Newcomers: Linda Allegro, Zach Zannoni, Maya Nicole Matthews, Aaron Thomas. Returning: Gina Cekala, Bob Cressotti, Cynthia Mangini, State Rep. John Santantella. Republican members State Rep. Carol Hall, who previously served on the Town Council; Marie Pyznar and Lori Unghire, who are returning members. Other than to get sworn in and select a mayor, the new council is unlikely to conduct any other significant business at this meeting. That will happen at an expected meeting Nov. 17. Planning and Zoning Commission hearing on Enfield Square The PZC will hold a hearing on a plan Thursday at 7 p.m., to rede...
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Enfield Democrats' Overwhelming Win Delivers a Message

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Councilmember-elect Linda Allegro, second from left, at the Democrat's watch party, shortly after learning that she won District 1, unseating Republican Mayor Ken Nelson. To the immediate left is former State Rep. Bill Kiner, Councilmember Bob Cressotti, and former State Rep. David Kiner. Taking the photo is Board of Education member-elect Roberta 'Bobbie' Kiner. Enfield Democrats won Tuesday's election by a landslide, capturing an 8-3 Town Council supermajority in what appears to be a clear rejection of local Republican priorities. Democrats received about 63% of the vote in Town Council races and also won the school board. While Republicans may take some solace in the fact that their defeat came amid a statewide Democratic wave, there is evidence that Enfield voters were responding to specific local frustrations with Republican governance. That message may have been most evident in District 1. The Democrats considered this a Republican district, which was won by the D...
Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA
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Who Will Win Enfield's Election?

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  A sign at October’s “No Kings” rally in Enfield captures a growing frustration across party lines that may help explain the town’s political shift: “Left or Right, We All See Wrong.” Unaffiliated voters now make up 44 percent of Enfield’s electorate. Photo by author. We don't conduct polls in Enfield, so it's hard to tell what motivates voters. Here’s a non-scientific look—a reporter's take based on registration data and recent history. Overall Election Outlook The outlook for this election remains genuinely uncertain. While the registration numbers point in multiple directions, recent history reminds us that Enfield voters are willing to surprise us. The Biggest Story: Unaffiliated Voters Widen Their Lead The main trend in Enfield isn't about Democrats or Republicans—it's unaffiliated voters solidifying their dominance. Their registrations grew 38% in ten years, from 8,695 in 2015 to 12,034. That's 3,339 new voters—exceeding both parties' combined growth...
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Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA
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Last-Minute Town Council Meeting Attempt Fails, School Audit Won't Be Released Before Election

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  Town Council meeting Oct. 20 2025  The audit of Enfield's $5.6 million school budget shortfall will not be released before Tuesday's election, despite a last-minute attempt Friday to schedule a special Town Council meeting. Mayor Ken Nelson proposed a Monday night meeting, on election eve, during which the council could review the draft audit in executive session and then vote to release it to the public. Democrats claim the meeting was never meant to happen. Nelson said he was doing his best to accommodate their request. The issue that triggered the audit surfaced in 2024, when the Board of Education faced a $5.6 million budget shortfall. Council Republicans, then in the majority, covered it out of the town's reserves and ordered an audit. Because it happened under a Democratic Board of Education majority, it remains a political issue. At the Oct. 20 Town Council meeting, town officials said the draft audit was ready, but wouldn't be released immediately. The plan ou...
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Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA
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The School Audit Is Done. Why Won’t Enfield Release It Before You Vote?

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  Enfield Town Hall The town has the audit triggered by the $5.6 million shortfall in the Board of Education budget — but it won’t release it until after the election. We have an election in five days. Voters are being asked to decide on school board leadership and budget oversight without knowing what happened to $5.6 million of their money. That’s wrong. Voters deserve this information before they cast their ballots. Background During the shortfall, the Enfield Board of Education had a Democratic majority. After Republicans won control of the Town Council and Board of Education, council Republicans sharply criticized the prior board’s budget management. Board members — both Democratic and Republican — appeared before the council to explain what happened. They cited several factors: -- The state cut special-education reimbursements from above 90% to the low 60s. -- Special-education enrollment rose sharply after the budget was set. -- Other costs, including insurance, increased. A...
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The Hidden Cost of Low Tax Increases: Enfield’s Shrinking Fund Balance

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Whoever wins Tuesday’s election may soon wish they hadn’t. The new Town Council will inherit a budget crisis shaped by two converging forces: a new property revaluation and a dangerously depleted fund balance — the town’s financial cushion for emergencies and unexpected costs. How Did We Get Here?  Over the past two years, the Republican-controlled council has drawn at least $13.6 million from the fund balance to keep tax increases low.  What Is the Fund Balance? The unassigned fund balance consists of unspent money from department budgets and revenues that exceed expectations. In municipal budgeting, it serves as a safety net — covering unexpected emergencies such as sewer failures, and lawsuits. It can also be used strategically to soften tax increases, especially in revaluation years. The key word is strategically. Using reserves occasionally makes sense. Draining them year after year — especially before a revaluation — does not. What Happened Over the Past Two Years At the...
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Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA
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