Elected By A Minority

To the Editor:

Herb Rosenthal has been serving as first selectmen for the Town of Newtown for almost ten years. During that time, the average voter turnout on Election Day for the Town of Newtown has been 36.1 percent (the range has been 23.9 percent to 46.9 percent). Twice he has run unopposed. In the six preceding elections prior to Herb’s first victory in 1997, the average voter turnout was 51.4 percent. During Herb’s administrations, voter turnout has dropped by 15 percent.

During the Rosenthal years, the average number of voters voting on a given election day has been 4,527, while the average number of registered voters has been 14,076. During the six preceding election cycles, the average number of voters voting was 5,524 (1,000 people more than in recent elections), while the average number of registered voters was 10,918 (greater than 3,000 fewer than recently).

The Constitutional right we enjoy in this country to vote is a rarity in world history. Throughout history, most people in most countries for most of their lives did not enjoy this freedom. We should cherish this right and exercise it every election day.

As I’ve campaigned in Newtown and met many residents, I’ve been amazed at how many folks have expressed the fact that they don’t vote, or they vote only in the “big” elections for the Presidency, governor, etc. For those who think this way, please rethink this position.

As a result of this type of thinking, we have a first selectman for whom the vast majority of registered Newtown voters did not vote elected to office. During Herb Rosenthal’s administrations, he has experienced a total vote population of 70,380 votes available to him across five election cycles. Of that available population, Herb has received a total of 15,057 votes, 21.3 percent of those available to him. Stated another way, Herb Rosenthal did not receive nearly 80 percent (78.7 percent) of the votes available to him.

Yet he sits in office today, campaigning for his sixth election, maneuvering to construct a town hall this town doesn’t need or want and can’t afford, watching our schools underperform amidst school infrastructure long overdue for repairs.

The Independent Party of Newtown has a far better way to conduct town governance, and it is clearly addressed in our party platform, available to be viewed online at www.independentpartyofnewtown.com. Come visit our site, read about our candidates, come meet us at our upcoming Meet & Greets.

We have proudly endorsed Joe Borst for first selectmen and look forward to celebrating Joe’s victory with him on November 6.

Hey Newtown — get out and vote!

Brendan Duffy

Candidate for Legislative Council, District 3

Independent Party of Newtown

4 Chestnut Knoll Drive, Sandy Hook                         October 3, 2007