Democratic Town Committee Appoints Thames to Fill Vacancy on School Board

The Manchester Democratic Town Committee met Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013, and unanimously appointed Darryl Thames to fill a vacancy on the Board of Education caused by Sarah Walton's resignation. 

Walton resigned earlier this month to accept a position within the Manchester Public Schools system. 

Thames currently works for the City of Hartford and said he also has past experience working in education as a grant writer for both the Hartford and Danbury public school systems. He said he had two children that attended Manchester public schools, and currently has a grandchild that also attends public school in Manchester, and that his values were in "lockstep" with the Manchester community. 

"I'm ready for this challenge," Thames told the town committee after it unanimously voted to approve his nomination 36-0. 

Thames is expected to be formally appointed to the position by the Board of Education as part of its meeting Monday, Aug. 26. If appointed to the school board, he would hold Walton's seat through the November election, where he will appear on the ballot as a candidate seeking another three-year term on the school board.