Reaction Is Shock, By MARY KITZMANN November election “took its toll” on Herald Reporter him. “I really thought we would win Chagrin MANCHESTER - Carl that,” he said. “If people really Zinsser, Republican leader of analyzed the way they thought they By LAUREN DAVIS SHEA the Board of Directors would vote Republican.” resigned from the board today, Saying the Republicans needed a Herald Reporter better organization to win elections, nine years to the day since his MANCHESTER - Reaction Zinsser said he was interested in among political leaders of both appointment. becoming the GOP town chairman, political parties in town to news of Zinsser, a realtor, cited several who will be elected in March. But he Carl Zinsser’s retirement from the reasons for his resignation at a mor­ would not commit himself to run­ Board of Directors ranged from ning press conference at his business ning. shock to disappointment but respect office, ’The other candidates mentioned for the man and his achievements “If you’re not effective it’s time to are Robert Von Deck, and Curtis was universal. step down,’’ he said. “It’s frustrating Smith. Mayor Stephen Penny, who led being in the minority position, I con­ “I hope people don’t have the im­ Zinsser by a bare 334 votes in the last stantly hear about things that need to pression I’m resigning to run for the municioal election, expressed ap­ be done. I couldn’t see being on the chairmanship,” he said. “I’m not, I preciation for the work Zinsser per board another two years in the basically need a rest, and I’m taking formed during his eight years on the minority position." the month of February to do it,” board. Besides frustration at the However, Zinsser said he believed “Carl has obviously worked very Republicans lack of power, Zinsser a board member should not be a town hard. He has run well as a candidate, said he lacked motivation for his next chairman at the same time. Zinsser which reflects the confidence he has term of office. had been the Republican leader, enjoyed in the community,” Penny “I have no motivation,” he said. since Vivian Ferguson resigned in said. “I’ve been on the board continuously 1979. General Manager Robert Weiss since 1973, and I find it hard to find “I hope to get back into politics if declared, “Of course, it comes as a the motivation to go to the the people think I’m qualified,” he very distinct shock. Carl has put a lot meetings." said. “But right now I don’t see the of thought, effort and service into the “ I refuse to sit on the board challenge on the board as 1 used to.” town, for I think 10 years. Over the without contributing. But I don’t Zinsser said he began to realize his years, there have been times when he have the motivation to do the kind of “ineffectiveness” when suggestions and I have had philosophical research that’s needed for the job." he made were dismissed and iater differences but most of the time we Zinsser was re-eiected last acted upon. An example of this was have been in agreement. I’m certain­ November, receiving the second his suggestion to contact a con­ ly going to miss him as a member of highest number of votes, 7,132. ’The stitutional expert on the lawsuit in­ the board.” GOP won four seats to the volving the Community Development While William Diana, who has Democrat’s five. Block Grant. served with Zinsser for most of the He said today, the first thoughts of Zinsser was appointed to the board last decade, could not be reached for resigning began in January and the Feb. 2, 1971, He replaced director comment today because he was out actual decision about two weeks ago. and former deputy mayor David of town on business, Peter Di Rosa, “There was no one thing that made Odegard who resigned to become a who served with Zinsser for the last me resign,” he said. “It was a lot of state senator. He also served two two years, was clearly disappointed little things. When you see you’re not years on the Human Relations Com­ with Zinsser’s decision to step down. being effective, it’s time to let mission and the Manchester Housing “Obviously, I consider him the someone else do the job.” Authority. leader of the Republican party in “I did not run for re-election with The following election Zinsser lost town,” Di Rosa said. “He has been a any thought of resigning. But I know his position, to be re-elected in 1973. dedicated, knowledgable official. there’s a lot of people who will say His resignation comes not only on Over the last few years, he has I’m quitting - I don’t like to use the the anniversary of his appointment always had the best interest of word. But I’m the one making the but on his 42nd birthday. “I really Manchester at heart,” he said. decision. I gave myself a test of ef­ enjoy being on the board,” he said. Gloria Della Fera, a newly elected ficiency and decided I’m not doing “But around January I analyzed Carl Zinsser, Republican leader of the Republican member of the board the kind of job the people elected me where I was, and was going and tiveness and a lack of motivation as reasons said today, “Needless to say, I cer­ for.” began to wonder if I was being as Board of Directors, resiped from the board for the resipation. tainly hate to be without him.” Della Zinsser said however the effective as I should be.” this morning. He cited feelings of ineffec­ Fera, whose upset election to the board in November closed the gover­ ning body’s make-up to a 5-4 Democratic lead, said with a laugh, “It is a tough job.” Democrats Promise GOP Successor “Carl certainly has given so much of his time and effort to the board. I By CHARLIE MAYNARD never do to them what they did to for the unexpired term, but doesn’t successor, but conceded that the Irish said newcomers like Peter us.” think he is probably tired. I can't say Herald Reporter prohibit the appointment of someone Democrats are a factor in any deci­ Sylvester or Curt Smith should be Cummings referred to the resigna­ that I blame him. He has been on the MANCHESTER - Top from the opposing party. sion. considered as candidates, although board longer than anyone,” Ms, Democratic Party officials said it tion of Democrat Pascal Poe in 1957 General Statutes prohibit a party Irish said although the successor he did not want to disregard former when the Republicans appointed a Della Fera said. will be a Republican who will from having any more than six falls within the jurisdiction of the director Vivian Ferguson. Biz Swensson, Republican town successor from their own party. Poe succeed Carl Zinsser on the Board of members on a nine-member board. previous Republican Town Com­ committee chairwoman, said at the was the top vote getter in that elec­ Directors. mittee, which he called a lame-duck "But the ball’s pretty much in the press conference where Zinsser Both Town Chairman Ted Cum­ tion and was also passed over for On Oct. 1, 1957, the Republican body, the decision should be made by Democrats court,” Irish said. “If the made his announcement, “He’s been mings and Mayor Stephen Penny af­ mayor, Party named Ronald Jacobs as the new committee because they will Democrats are going to play politics under a lot of pressure with his firmed that, despite the fact that the “We absolutely won’t do that,” successor to Poe. The Democrats be affected by the new director’s ac­ with the seat, then take it. Do it now. Cummings said. “That’s not our business and his family. We’re losing charter doesn’t prohibit the board had nominated Norman Comollo for tions. Don’t make us go the primary." a good minority leader. Whatever from naming a Democrat as style. I like to say that 1 can iearn the seat. “We gave to have a primary if Other persons mentioned as possi­ from their mistakes,” I’ve done on the GOP committee, successor. Republican Wallace Irish Jr. said there is more than one candidate,” ble successors were Clarence Brown he’s always been behind us 100 The charter specifies that the “It will be a Republican, their he would like to see a primary of he said. “We should allow them to go and Ida Lindberg, who were defeated percent.” vacany must be filled by the board Republican voters to determine a choice,” Cummings said. “We would to the Republican voters.” last year for the board. Democratic Town Chairman Ted Cummings said today, “I respect Carl Zinsser, even though we’re on different sides most of the time. But, he’s a scrapper and I’m sorry to see Solons Eye Booze, Bottles, Boxing him go. They’ll (GOP) have a hard time filling his shoes.” Ella Grasso seems “warm on the HARTFORD (UPl) - The first teen-agers who buy liquor illegally. Benvenuto, who owns a package Rep. Arthur Della-Vecchia, D- Wally Irish, member of the GOP legislative step has been taken to subject.” Presently, only stiff fines are levi^ store. Southington, who said he was con­ town committee and the Republican raise Connecticut’s 18-year-old legal Public Safety Commissioner on package store owners.