Elections ‘09—

Democrats First Position Paper Echoes

Familiar Theme: Inclusion

By John Voket

Democratic first selectman candidate Gary Fetzer and his running mate Joe Hemingway issued their first position paper this week, mirroring to some extent a theme that is also being promoted by the competing Independent Party of Newtown and local Republicans — inclusion.

This theme seeks to inspire Newtown residents who for whatever reason queue up each year to pay their taxes or tap town services, but who are otherwise disengaged in the community.

The Democratic contenders have expanded on the theme, however, tendering several tax saving or community-building ideas, including replacing town employees with volunteers where possible, and reminding those who are not so deeply affected by the recent economic downturn to consider making a donation to the town or school.

In a cover letter, Mr Fetzer and Mr Hemingway appear to take personal responsibility for the ideas, issuing the disclaimer: “This does not represent the views of the entire party but will give the public a sense of our priorities.”

The note goes on to affirm the candidates’ commitment to try and engage as many Newtowners as possible toward a community-oriented common good, while fully embracing a diversity of ideas and political beliefs among their fellow party members.

“We do not expect every candidate on the ticket to agree with our positions, nor do they have to in order to run with the Democratic slate,” Mr Fetzer wrote. “The Democratic party is an umbrella organization that covers people with divergent views, by its very nature that is our strength. In that way we can educate each other as to innovative ideas and different ways of looking at the solutions to problems.”

Mr Hemingway also took a swipe at the IPN’s “Declaration of Independents ’09,” which was issued by its party chairman and first selectman candidate Bruce Walczak several weeks before the political group, which already has several qualified minor party positions on the November ballot, announced a slate that includes more than a dozen supporting petitioners.

The Democratic candidate observed that “platforms by their very nature are so general as to be useless, especially if they are formulated before you have your entire ticket assembled.”

“We prefer to allow everyone to think for themselves,” Mr Hemingway continued. “Every four years, during the national conventions, platform committees for both parties develop long lists of stands, that as soon as the convention is over, everyone forgets and both candidates never reference again either during the campaign or after they are elected.”

The paper, issued under the campaign slogan of “Team Newtown,” outlines three basic tenets: “Share Your Time,” “Share Your Talents,” and “Share Your Treasure.”

Mr Fetzer and Mr Hemingway recognize that Newtown is “a community of untapped knowledge and expertise.” They contend that many residents simply have not been involved because they have not been asked.

“We will be asking,” the paper states. “As we have campaigned, we have met residents who have been involved with creating strategic plans in their corporations or businesses. We need their help. Others have a background and could be useful analyzing maintenance schedules, or have the skills to assist boards and commissions in specific aspects of their charges.”

The paper goes on to call those with the expertise to help someone in school improve their reading or math skills or work with the local Chamber of Commerce to hold a seminar on how to start a small business.

“Ad hoc committees will be formed to address a multitude of issues facing the town, and look at ways we can become more productive and cost effective,” according to the candidates.

One of the unusual ideas is a suggestion to supplement town and school district staff with a corps of volunteers who can free up paid staff to handle larger or higher priority projects.

“We want to further explore using volunteers for any number of tasks that are either contracted out or are done by town or Board of Education employees,” the paper says. “This would free them up to do more productive tasks that utilize their unique skills, or can accomplish those tasks that are not seen as a high priority.”

The paper describes a program Mr Hemingway successfully implemented with a group of volunteers to paint the Middle School corridors, and a committee chaired by Mr Fetzer that took down an eyesore “in the middle of town” (the old Highway Cleaners building at Exit 10) — with no cost to taxpayers.

The paper goes on to cite landscaping, shoveling snow, and washing town vehicles among the jobs that might be done by volunteers. Mr Fetzer and Mr Hemingway have dubbed this program “INVEST” which stands for In Newtown Volunteering Equals Saving Taxes.

“We will start a volunteer service corps in conjunction with all department heads, boards and commissions and appoint a team of volunteer coordinators to create a list of tasks that can be accomplished by volunteers,” the paper says.

Tax Credits For Service

To further motivate residents, if elected, the selectmen candidates are committed to exploring “the possibility of offering tax credits for volunteer hours served, but only if it more than offsets current expenditures and thus saves the town money.”

The “Share Your Treasure” aspect speaks for itself. The paper reminds any resident who is able to make a personal donation that any contribution to the town or the Board of Education it is tax deductible, the same as any other charitable contribution.

“We want to encourage people to voluntarily make tax deductible contributions to specific unfunded needs or programs offered by the Board of Education or the town,” the paper states.

The pair plan to publicize those who make such donations, “so they can get the credit they deserve,” and the pair plan to make the first donations to the program themselves, according to the release.

The introductory statement to this first Democratic position paper also speaks to unity and inclusion, which seem to rival transparency as the themes for this year’s local races. “The Fetzer/Hemingway ‘Team Newtown’ concept is the spirit of using municipal government to reach out to those who are not involved, and provide them with a specific avenue to help their neighbors and themselves.

In an August 3 release from the IPN, Mr Walczak said his political group “provides an outstanding opportunity for those people who are interested in serving in town government who would otherwise not have a voice within the Republican or Democratic Town Committees. IPN is all about providing choices to the people of Newtown.”

The premise was also affirmed in a July 23 letter to The Newtown Bee from Republican party chair William Brimmer, Jr, who wrote: “The Republican party is a welcoming group, and in the past we have appointed unaffiliated voters to boards and commissions. Some are currently serving and we have nominated at least one unaffiliated voter to our November ballot.”