Don’t Be Fooled

To the Editor:

Most of us are tired of the partisan attempts by the national and state parties to score political points on one another during the daily wrangling in Washington, D.C., and Hartford. We urge the parties to work together to solve our nation’s and our state’s significant problems. With that in mind, as our local 2009 election campaign draws to a close, we should sift through the haze of posturing, political rhetoric, and promises and examine the records and the past comments of the candidates and their political parties.

For many years, local Democratic and Republican elected officials have done exactly what we are demanding of our national and state leaders. They have worked together to solve Newtown’s problems and to move our town forward. They have considered differing opinions and have not stifled dissent. However, rather than focus on disagreements, they have found areas of commonality in order to reach consensus for solutions and to make progress in the best interests of Newtown.  On the other hand, the IPN and many of their candidates have negatively focused on dissent and have attacked Democrats and Republicans for working together.

Many of the achievements that my friend Bill Brimmer rightly hailed in his October 2, 2009 Newtown Bee letter were really the bipartisan successes of both Republicans and Democrats working together for the betterment of all Newtown residents. Remember, the Board of Finance consists of three Democrats and three Republicans and the council now has five Democrats and five Republicans. The Board of Finance has been bipartisan since its inception in 2001. In fact, our original appointees consisted of two Republicans, one Democrat and three unaffiliated voters.

We should not be fooled by the IPN’s calls for fiscal responsibility. Not only are Bruce Walczak and Bill Furrier on record calling for us to spend $7 million more than is currently necessary for the NHS expansion, but also we should remember that the IPN grew out of Po Murray’s and Gary Davis’s “We Can” — build a new, $160 million, 2,200-student high school. That is almost four times the cost of the addition! IPN members have also opposed open space purchases, criticized our ten percent debt cap policy, and belittled the need and importance of continuing to improve our bond credit rating. That is not fiscal responsibility!

The IPN espouses transparency and openness in government, but their conduct has consistently been secretive. In 2007 and again this year much of their campaign is conducted through email lists, some commandeered from sports groups and other youth organizations. Their propaganda is sent out in a manner that blocks public officials and campaign opponents from replying to correct the falsehoods.

On the other hand, Joe Hemingway, Pat Llodra, and Will Rodgers, along with the excellent Democratic and Republican candidates for the Board of Finance and Legislative Council, have strong records of openness and bipartisan accomplishments, as did Gary Fetzer 12 years ago as a selectman.

Sincerely,

Herb Rosenthal

70 Main Street, Newtown                                     October 20, 2009