To the Editor:

The Channel 21 TV debate Tuesday night featured the two first selectman candidates from Newtown, Trumbull, and Monroe. The Monroe and Trumbull candidates had specific agendas and were obviously aggressive and competitive. Our Newtown candidates conversely, Herb Rosenthal and Owen Carney, seemed more like running mates than opponents. On the initial questions asked of them, they seemed to be in agreement.

Being a live call-in question format, I was able to ask a two-part question directed to both of our candidates. The first was about the decline of economic development in Newtown over the last 10 years and in light of the current recession, what was their plan to revive our business community. The second was since we had lost a lot of our commercial and business communities economic base, where was the money going to come from to finance FFH without major increases in taxes for our beleaguered homeowners.

Mr Rosenthal’s personal identification of me as the caller and his derogatory remark about my question was unprofessional and diversionary. The fact that Herb effectively said that economic development would cause a demand for more housing in Newtown is blatantly absurd. Having a strong business community which contributes positive tax revenue to our town’s income is vital for our future. With such a large geographic area and specific sites designated for commercial growth such as Hawleyville and Commerce Park, Newtown can retain its rural image and small town appeal.

It is unfortunate that Mr Rosenthal doesn’t understand the basics of economic growth and development. If he recalls from his Economics 101 class, Samuelson describes the importance of a strong economic base as the “multiplier effect.” The ancillary effect of business prosperity in a town like Newtown is the benefit of having neighboring businesses feed off of each others success.

The residents of Newtown who live here and are spending their discretionary income in the Danbury Mall, on Federal Road, and the Southbury Commons are supporting those other town’s economic growth. No, we don’t want a mall here but capturing a bigger part of that outflow of capital makes a lot of sense.

By our Legislative Council candidates, Dick Dunseith and Bob Hennessey advocating the strengthening of our business community and keeping more of our money here in town, everybody benefits. Maybe some of our residents who are commuting long distances would prefer to work for a local quality employer and have more time for our community needs.

The total lack of dialog on important issues such as economic development (there are many more) by Mr Rosenthal and his challenger has left our voters without any idea of what our needs are or what the candidates intend to do about them. Newtown has lost out over the last 10 years by not making a serious effort to retain good businesses or attract new ones. Saying that Heise-Dresser made a corporate decision to leave Newtown is nonsense. They consolidated in Shelton and could have just as easily come to Newtown if we really wanted them to stay.

When the TV debate was scheduled, Mr Rosenthal was asked to pick a time he would be available. By abandoning his worthy opponent and the entire Newtown audience, Mr Rosenthal has sent a clear message that he doesn’t want to be asked about or explain the needs of our community or where he stands on these issues. It also sends us a clear message that he doesn’t have much regard for the Newtown voters who wanted to ask him other pertinent questions.

Walking out on the community in the middle of the debate was a disgrace.

Barry J. Piesner, Chairman

The NICE Party

24 Old Farm Hill Road, Newtown                 October 31, 2001