Brookfield Republican Registrar of Voters Jeff Dunkerton is stepping down from his position and removing his name from November’s ballot, but there will still be a Dunkerton running for Republican Registrar — Jeff’s father Tom.
Jeff, who is finishing his first four-year term as a registrar, recently accepted a job as assistant town clerk in Danbury. There would not be a conflict if Dunkerton held both positions, however between his new duties, continuing to do some work for his previous employer, Velocity Express, holding the rank of captain in the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department and a newborn baby, “It was more of a time commitment issue.”
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” he said. “I’m definitely going to miss working with everyone in Brookfield but it’s the right decision at this time.”
Tom Dunkerton, a 21-year veteran of the Greenwich police department and poll worker at Huckleberry Hill Elementary School during elections and referendums, was unanimously chosen by the Republican Town Committee’s (RTC) caucus vacancy committee to fill his son’s slot on November’s ballot.
The senior Dunkerton, who said he has been a Republican ever since he started voting — for Richard Nixon in 1968, absentee from Vietnam — was approached by members of the RTC about succeeding his son and running for the position and readily accepted.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge and working with [Democratic Registrar of Voters] Dotti [Dori],” he said. “I realize how important it is to make sure elections are above board.”
Dunkerton has never held a municipal or elected office previously, but has been working with the poll moderators at Huckleberry for the past four years.
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That and, “He certainly has a resource” in his son, RTC Chairman Marty Flynn pointed out, adding that he has a lot of respect for the work Jeff has done during his term as registrar.
“We’ve had a lot of close votes — sometimes by one vote — and everyone has always respected the outcomes of the poll workers, lead by Jeff,” he said.
Tom Dunkerton will appear on November’s ballot along with Democratic Registrar Dotti Dori, both of who are running unopposed.
