Sprecace Not Running; Friess-McSparran Added To GOP Ticket

Republicans scrambled Tuesday night during the Town Committee caucus to add Democratic incumbent Marie Friess-McSparran to their City Council slate after learning she had been dropped by her own party.

RTC Chairman Bill Vogel said Wednesday that during the two parties' caucuses, which were held simultaneously at the Senior Center, Republicans learned that the one-term incumbent had been dropped from the Democratic ticket.

"So we went ahead and put her on the slate and then texted her and let her know," Vogel said. Vogel said Friess-McSparran agreed. Here is her press release on her decision.

So while Republicans are gaining one incumbent on their ticket, they have lost their other — Adam Sprecace, on the council since 2007, decided not to run, Vogel said.

"We are devastated that we are losing such a good person," Vogel said.

Via email, Sprecace told Patch, "I can really only attribute it to a feeling I've been having lately about needing to be around the family more. I will have six years in at the end of this term and I've watched, what sometimes feels like afar, my two daughters grow up.  Now the oldest is entering high school and my absence has reached a point where I'm hearing about it more often. My decision was confirmed when after my daughter heard me telling my wife about it, her face lit up and she said, 'You're not running again, really?!' I'll be back.  I see it as a postponement rather than a retirement."

The other Republican candidates for council endorsed by the RTC Tuesday are: Dennis Downing, Keith Robbins, Katelin Teel, Mike Doyle, Gordon Videll, and Vogel.

The committee only endorsed four for Board of Education: incumbent Jason Catala, and Casey Giesing, Myrna Martinez (Green Party) and Iam Thomas.

Barbara Major was reappointed registrar.