Date: Fri 05-Dec-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Rosenthal-first-day

Full Text:

New First Selectman Has A "Good But Hectic" First Day

BY STEVE BIGHAM

He is a Navy veteran, serving his tour of duty during the Vietnam War. He's

been a successful insurance salesman for years, and he's been chairman of the

town's Board of Education for the past 13 years. But Monday morning, even Herb

Rosenthal had a few butterflies as he headed to Edmond Town Hall for his first

day on the job.

Those butterflies soon faded, however, as the town's new first selectman got

down to business.

"It was a good first day, a little hectic," he said Tuesday. "There were a lot

of things waiting for me to sign and receive. It went by quickly."

Mr Rosenthal officially became the town's 113th first selectman at a

swearing-in ceremony Sunday afternoon at Newtown High School. (See related

story.) The Democrat was elected in a landslide victory over Republican Russ

Melita November 4. Mr Rosenthal takes over from Bob Cascella, who stepped down

last week after four years in office.

As Mr Rosenthal pointed out, there is no grace period when it comes to the

first selectman. There's no one there to train you. You learn as you go.

"Welcome to the NFL," joked Mr Rosenthal. "Here are your cleats and the ball.

Go get 'em."

The new first selectman has received some help from Mr Cascella's assistants,

Carole Ross and Jan Andras, who will keep their jobs at least until the end of

this month.

Mr Rosenthal drove to work on Monday, but walked in on Tuesday. He lives

almost directly across the street from town hall. He follows in the footsteps

of his father, Jack, who walked to and from the first selectman's office every

day for 12 years.

Mr Rosenthal was expected to visit the highway department later this week to

meet with some of the 20-plus employees who work there. His reception may be

lukewarm, however. During the campaign, Mr Rosenthal was a frequent critic of

the inefficiency of the highway department. He plans to conduct a management

study to review the operations of the department with the possibility of

restructuring.

Mr Rosenthal said he has an "open door" policy, meaning that neither residents

nor employees need to make an appointment in order to meet with him.