The 2007 Election: A Clear Choice

In the face of disappointment, we often end up prodding ourselves to take an optimistic view, recasting our laments as wishes that just might come true. In the context of politics, this Pollyanna pose can seem a little unrealistic. Desperate, even. But that’s what we found ourselves doing in this space two years ago, offering a wish for a political renewal in town after lamenting the lack of choices on the local election ballot in 2005.

That wish, much to our surprise and delight, has come true… in spades. There are contested races up and down the local ballot this year, and not just among Republican and Democratic candidates. Willing unaffiliated voters, and Republicans and Democrats who could not find a place on their respective parties’ tickets, petitioned their way onto the ballot this year, many of them under the banner of the Independent Party of Newtown. Newtown’s previously impoverished electoral process has suddenly struck it rich. This year there are, not just one, but four candidates for first selectman among the 70 candidates on the ballot.

The 2007 race for first selectman has been both informative and civil, largely because of the temperament of the men running. The incumbent Democrat, Herb Rosenthal, and his challengers, Republican Joseph Borst and petitioning candidates Louis “Jay” Mattegat and Christian Qualey, Jr, have not shied away from contention in their two October debates, but they have treated each other and the electoral process itself with respect.

What has become clear through the debates, and through the candidates’ answers to the many questions put to them in this election campaign, is that Mr Rosenthal knows far more about administering the affairs of a town than his challengers. It has been his job for the past decade. He knows the issues in detail, he knows the historical antecedents of those issues, and he ably counters vague and general criticisms of his administration with very specific and well supported rationale. His leadership of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, recently as president and currently as board member, has also made him a prominent defender of the interests of towns and cities in Hartford’s legislative battles, where much of Newtown’s fiscal well being is determined.

Herb Rosenthal may be better at what he does than any of his challengers, but are there other compelling reasons for voters to remove him from office? Are there fundamental problems with how and where he is leading the town, or doubts about his motives or his character? Some of the first selectman’s most vocal critics have tried to foment the latter by calling him arrogant, resentful of the public, and prone to backroom deals that benefit his cronies. Week in and week out, we watch and question the first selectman closely — closer even than his harshest critics — and we know these characterizations are untrue, as does anyone else who actually knows the man. So we are left with the question: Is Herb Rosenthal leading where we think the town should go?

On fiscal matters, yes. Selectmen’s budget increases have been significantly lower than school budget increases, and $4.3 million in outside grants have supplemented the town’s resources for capital projects and land acquisition. And he is at the forefront of statewide efforts to get Hartford to assume a greater share of educational funding.

On property tax relief, yes. Mr Rosenthal has supported and secured more than a 30-fold increase in the amount of tax relief available to seniors.

On open space, yes. Mr Rosenthal is the only candidate committed without caveat or qualification to the town’s long-term plan to spend $2 million a year for ten years on open space. The town has already seen more than 1,000 acres set aside under his administration, both enhancing the quality of life in Newtown and helping to stabilize population growth and future educational expenses.

On Fairfield Hills, yes. Though he came close to saying in last week’s debate that he regretted agreeing to a legally unnecessary vote on the Fairfield Hills master plan in 2003, which voters rejected by 154 votes, the first selectman has tried to reconcile the lack of a town consensus revealed in a subsequent survey on how best to develop FFH. The master plan, ultimately approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission, reflects a mix of uses — municipal, economic development, and open space — that is already promising concrete results for the town in the form of new town offices, recreational facilities, and new business opportunities and services. (Mr Rosenthal announced this week that Danbury Hospital is planning a medical facility at the FFH campus.)

All in all, we are optimistic about Newtown’s future, and we say that with more confidence than we had two years ago. We owe that confidence to all the candidates in this year’s local election, and we thank them for the choices they have given Newtown voters this year. At the top of the ticket, the choice is clear: Herb Rosenthal should be reelected as first selectman.