Orchestrated False Allegations

To the Editor:

The February 27, 2009, issue of The Newtown Bee contained four vitriolic letters that were obviously orchestrated by the independent Party of Newtown (IPN), respectively by, their treasurer, Gianine Crowell; one of their council members, Po Murray; on again, off again, Legislative Council candidate, Ruby Johnson; and “chairman,” Bruce Walczak. In their typical fashion, they contain false allegations, half-truths and personal attacks, particularly against our very honest and competent town attorney, David Grogins.

In the current instance, the only public official who owes an apology and perhaps an offer to resign is council member Po Murray, who gave misleading and incomplete information to the Connecticut Department of Labor in effect erroneously “blowing the whistle” on her own town that could cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is another example of members of the IPN putting their political interests and personal vendettas ahead of the town’s best interests. Similar examples were anonymous phone calls and letters of complaint to the Department of Environmental Protection and Department Public Health that caused the town delays and thousands of dollars, only to find that the town did follow proper environmental procedures, not withstanding Mr Walczak’s false assertions of last week.

All of this is from a group whose mantras are “transparency” and “openness in government” and yet Mr Walczak would not even disclose when, where, or by whom he was “elected” party chairman. Half of their four elected officials remain registered as Democrats (there are only three voters who are registered as members of the IPN on their voter cards). Finally, after telling voters in 2007 that they formed a new party, the IPN, not affiliated with any other party, they are now, somehow, part of the Independent Party of Connecticut; so much for honesty and “transparency.”

Sincerely

Herbert C. Rosenthal

70 Main Street, Newtown                                                March 4, 2009