Political Action Committee Aimed At Replacing Town Officials

By Kendra Bobowick

Two surprises await residents.

First are the results of a townwide polling asking nine questions of roughly 2,000 taxpayers. Behind the poll is resident and business owner Matthew DeAngelis, who also explained that his survey, conducted by Eastern Research, also allowed for comments. Eastern Research is one of the nation’s largest independent telephone data collection companies.

He said, “I think there is frustration and anger in town.”

Mr DeAngelis has also filed forms to register a political action committee (PAC).

The reasons he formed a PAC are stark. After launching a website, Insidenewtown.com, affiliated with the group Friends of Newtown, for which Mr DeAngelis has stepped forward as spokesperson, the site’s blog (web log) began criticizing town officials’ plans for the Fairfield Hills campus redevelopment in late 2006. Mr DeAngelis’s campaign has now taken another step in this direction with the formation of a PAC.

After Insidenewtown.com made its debut, he felt town officials’ moves were limited. “There were two ways to go — two possibilities with Friends of Newtown speaking out; one, was that town officials would listen, and two, that town officials need to be replaced.”

He continued, “We are rapidly approaching number two.” He believes voters need a choice. In the interest of such choices an email from Insidenewtown.com mentioning the PAC and highlighting political intentions was sent to those requesting to be kept informed by Friends of Newtown. The message arriving Monday, January 29, reads: “If you know someone who wants to make a difference here in town, the 4Newtown PAC needs candidates for Legislative Council, Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance and various and sundry committees.” The message came only days after the political paperwork to register a PAC flowed through the town clerk’s office.

Naming further reasons behind the political committee, Mr DeAngelis said, “Basically, we’re looking for a little more transparency and accountability in the town government and a government that listens to us — this one clearly does not.”

Stressing the “whole point of the PAC,” he said, “Town officials do not reflect the way taxpayers want to spend money…”

From these sentiments emerged the survey, he explained.

“We all had that gut feeling and that’s the reason,” he said.

Despite his appeal for candidates for the council and boards mentioned in his email, he did not confirm that he was assembling a slate to run against incumbents in the November 2007 municipal elections. He did say that a new slate was a consideration, however.

“It’s a thought. People have stepped up, but I haven’t spoken to them yet,” Mr DeAngelis said. He further explained, “I think we’re channeling support for political seats.”

The phone survey posed questions to homeowners answering the call.

One question in particular has to do with Fairfield Hills — a focal point of not only Insidenewtown.com, but a civil action suit filed against the town in recent months. The suit filed by Mr DeAngelis essentially called for a stop to the Fairfield Hills development, specifically a new town hall to be located at a renovated Bridgeport Hall, and to put the master plan of development for Fairfield Hills to a town vote. The town has responded to the civil suit with a recent motion to dismiss the case.

Mr DeAngelis’s phone survey asked: “We have a chance to build only one new building on the Fairfield Hills Campus using the bond money we approved in 2001. What should it be? A. Town Hall, B. School, C. Senior Center, D. Recreation Center, E. Commercial Building.”

“Town hall was dead last,” according to poll results Mr DeAngelis said.

An article in The Newtown Bee two weeks ago and referenced again last week explained that a recreation center, senior center, and school expansions were included in a Capital Improvement Plan for the town, the appropriations for which will go before voters. An approximate $21 million has already been bonded for Fairfield Hills projects including a town hall, which cannot be reallocated, according to town officials.

Last week, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal said, “You can’t keep redoing the process over and over again.” He also stressed that Fairfield Hills plans are not overshadowing other needs. He noted that the Legislative Council had just approved a capital spending package encompassing school expansions and recreation and senior needs. He had further stressed that taxpayers will not be overextended. Acting council chairman Timothy Holian also previous told The Bee, “The Board of Finance did exactly what we asked them to do — provide a plan that stays within the spending cap, while doing as much for the entire town as possible.”

Noting these points compared to his survey question, Mr DeAngelis said, “I have a lot of money in my checking account, that’s my answer to that. Even if I had [millions], which Newtown does not, we have to prioritize.”

Mr DeAngelis plans to attend an upcoming Legislative Council meeting along with representatives of other special interest group in town.

“We are working together, that’s a politician’s worst nightmare, and I am looking forward to seeing how this plays out,” Mr DeAngelis said.

Mr Rosenthal had commented that, “It is certainly within [Mr DeAngelis’s] rights or anyone’s rights to form a political action committee.” He recalls prior PACs that have formed in town saying some had nominated candidates for office.