Independent Voters Required!

To the Editor:

For years the independents of Newtown had little or no choice. Officials ran with token opposition. The administration appointed friends and supporters to significant positions and “To The Victors Belong The Spoils” prevailed. As a result, many of our independents gave up voting, accepting the fact that Newtown was controlled by a group of “good ole boys” and that their votes didn’t really count. Voter turnout dwindled and our taxes continued to increase.

Then something very significant happened. Matt DeAngelis filed a suit against the town and its officials for implementing a master plan never approved by the people. His action awakened a town that was politically asleep and caused its citizens to start thinking about decisions made by this administration that were not in accordance with their wishes. The groundswell could be felt throughout the community. Letters to the editor increased. People began regaining interest in their community. Ruby Johnson, who has been a shining light and a people’s advocate for many years, continued publishing facts for the people. With each publication, the administration became more and more frustrated evidenced by statements like “her facts are wrong,” “there is lots of misinformation being presented,” etc. Never once did anyone in the administration publish any facts that proved her wrong; for that matter, they never published any facts that proved Mr DeAngelis wrong either. When information was published by someone in the electorate the administration would only say “they got their facts wrong.”

Po Murray and Gary Davis formed a group called WeCAN (We Care About Newtown). Originally organized to address educational issues in Newtown, the group realized that problems facing Newtown were far greater than matters regarding only education. The more they investigated, the more they found that glaring inadequacies were prevalent. The highlight of this group’s efforts was the famous February 7, 2007, Legislative Council meeting where over 400 people turned out to express dissatisfaction with the way the town was planning for a new town hall rather than spending that money on significant school deficiencies. The crowning statement that evening was from our first selectman, Herb Rosenthal insisting on a new town hall at Fairfield Hills, and I paraphrase: If you don’t like what I’m doing vote me out of office. This statement was made after hearing hundreds of people express their displeasure with plans for a new town hall at Fairfield Hills. However, in subsequent statements several weeks later Mr Rosenthal indicated he was interested in the people’s opinions. Yeah, right!

Now it is important for the independents of Newtown to get out this November to vote. Thanks to those very progressive individuals of WeCAN the Independent Party of Newtown was formed, providing us with some very good choices. Of the registered voters in Newtown, 25 percent are Democrats, 31percent are Republican, and 44 percent are Independents. You are the majority, it’s up to you Independents, take back your town. Vote!

Nancy Roznicki

169 Hanover Road, Newtown                                 September 18, 2007