Mr Rosenthal’s Mandate

To the Editor:

Having conviction of one’s beliefs can be considered admirable in some instances, but in Mr Rosenthal’s case, it has been called arrogant. Despite the public outcry over the proposed new town hall at Fairfield Hills, Mr Rosenthal has made his position clear: he is steadfast in his decision to move forward with this project, even if it costs him the election. He is so confident in his conviction that he boasts he won the election by 900-plus votes, and has implied that he won because the people believed in his plan for the future of Newtown. But is his arrogance justified?

Yes, it is true that Mr Rosenthal won the 2003 election — by 839 votes. But what is more interesting is the 2005 municipal election when Mr Rosenthal ran unopposed. According to the Secretary of the State of Connecticut website, out of the 15,677 registered voters in Newtown, only 3,740 (24 percent) took the time to vote. Mr Rosenthal, unopposed, received 2,455 votes, or 66 percent. This indicates that one out of three voters chose to withhold their vote for the first selectman. When you consider the total number of registered voters, only 16 percent voted for Mr Rosenthal. Nearly 12,000 voters were not represented in that vote.

So while it is true that Mr Rosenthal won the 2003 and 2005 elections, it is also true that only 16 percent of Newtown’s voters actually supported him and his plans for the future of Newtown. Not the overwhelming endorsement Mr Rosenthal has claimed.

Respectfully Submitted,

Gianine Crowell

Member WeCAN

26 Canterbury Lane, Sandy Hook                          February 28, 2007