Date: Fri 11-Jun-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

politics-Rosenthal-announces

Full Text:

Rosenthal Says He Will Run Again

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

As expected, there were plenty of friends and family members on hand Wednesday

as First Selectman Herb Rosenthal announced his plans to seek a second term of

office. What may not have been expected was the large turnout of town

employees who braved the light rain to show their support for the town's

leader.

Jean St Jean of the town's land-use department said she is very happy to see

Mr Rosenthal running again.

"I think he's done an excellent job. He's good to his employees, very open to

the public and a very positive leader," she said.

Parks & Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian and her staff were also on hand.

"He's been very supportive of the departments, and he's a nice man," she said.

Also present were Rita MacMillan and members of the land use staff, Building

Official Tom Paternoster, Zoning Enforcement Officer Gary Frenette, Town Clerk

Cindy Simon and her staff, Tax Assessor Denise Hames, Tax Collector Carol

Mahoney, as well as the first selectman's own staff and others.

Democratic Town Committee chairman Earl J. Smith was also there in support of

the first selectman.

Home Sweet Home

In announcing his candidacy on the front steps of Edmond Town Hall, Mr

Rosenthal called upon his sense of "useless trivia," explaining that Wednesday

was the birth date of songwriter John Howard Payne (1791), who wrote the

famous song, "Home Sweet Home."

"I imagine that's how most of you think of Newtown. It certainly is how I have

thought of it for the last 46 years," Mr Rosenthal said. "If I can be

remembered for one thing it would be that I helped to preserve the character

of Newtown."

Preserving the character of Newtown was the theme of the Rosenthal/Joe

Bojnowski campaign two years ago and, as Mr Rosenthal points out, has been the

"hallmark" of the administration the past 18 months.

Among the accomplishments he cited:

Reorganizing the land use department and hiring professionals to help provide

responsible development and to strictly enforce regulations.

Reviewing the operation of the Public Works Department and providing

suggestions for improvement.

Advocating for the continued maintenance and quality of Newtown schools.

Maintaining proper funding for police, fire and ambulance services.

Eliminating eyesores (the Hi-Way Cleaners has been removed, but the Texaco

station on Church Hill Road remains standing). Also, cleanup efforts at the

contaminated Batchelder site continue.

Ensuring that the future use of Fairfield Hills is in keeping with the

character of Newtown.

Appointing a municipal space needs committee to study the town's long-standing

office space woes.

As the town's development continues to affect the character of the town, the

town has many irons in the fire that are related to that growth, and Mr

Rosenthal said he is prepared to lead the town as it moves forward.

"With either the purchase or development of Fairfield Hills, solution of the

long overdue municipal space needs issues, new 5/6 school, increasing needs

for recreational facilities and continued residential development pressures,

there will be much to do in the next two years and I would like to be a part

of it," the first selectman said.

The first selectman got a congratulatory kiss from his wife, Michelle,

following the event. Also on hand was Jack Rosenthal, Herb's father and first

selectman of Newtown from 1975 to 1987.

Selectman Bill Brimmer of the Republican party has also announced he will seek

election to a second term. However, the GOP has not yet found a first

selectman candidate, according to town committee chairman Marie Sturdevant.

The candidate search will continue at Monday's Republican Town Committee

meeting.