Date: Fri 08-Aug-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

politics-Melita-Rosenthal

Full Text:

Candidates Took Different Paths To The Top Of Their Respective Tickets

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Democrat Herb Rosenthal and Republican Russ Melita had an impromptu meeting

the morning after each had received their respective party's endorsement last

month.

Mr Melita was on his way to work that day when he spotted Mr Rosenthal

standing outside his Main Street home. Both men are vying for the first

selectman's job and will likely have several more planned encounters in the

months leading up to the November election.

"I pulled over and sat in my car with my blinker on," Mr Melita recalled this

week. "We congratulated each other and wished each other good luck."

The two men have known each other for more than 20 years. Their kids all went

to school together (they have eight between them, four each), and their paths

have crossed several times during their many years of service to the town.

"Herb and I are friends, and I want to keep it that way," said Mr Melita.

Mr Rosenthal agreed. "Russ is a good guy. Hopefully, we'll have a good

campaign on the issues," he said.

This week, Gary Fetzer announced he will challenge Mr Rosenthal in a primary

in September, but until then, Mr Rosenthal of 70 Main Street remains his

party's choice to run in the election.

Both Mr Melita, 49, and Mr Rosenthal, 50, have taken different paths to get to

where they are today. Mr Rosenthal has spent the past 13 years on the Board of

Education, nearly three of them as the chairman and believes his negotiating

experience along with his ability to make tough budget decisions make him an

ideal candidate.

He said he thought about running for some time before making up his mind this

past spring. Upon announcing his decision to run back in May, he stated his

concern with the direction of the town.

"Newtown is a great place to live. I grew up here, and I raised my kids here.

I wanted to contribute something to the town," he said.

Mr Rosenthal, who was recently married to Michelle Williams, will be joined on

the ticket by selectman hopeful Joe Bojnowski, a loyal party man who helped

out Jack Rosenthal, Herb's father, during his many successful bids for the

first selectman's seat.

Since 1971, Mr Rosenthal has been in the business of insurance investments and

financial planning. He has lived in town for more than 40 years.

For Mr Melita of 16 Budd Drive, his decision to run came soon after First

Selectman Bob Cascella announced that he would not seek reelection in 1997.

"That took the Republicans by surprise," he said.

Soon after, several high-ranking Republicans suggested that Mr Melita make a

run for the town's top post, pointing out his experience as a labor consultant

and his contributions made during stints on the Legislative Council, land-use,

Parks & Recreation Commission and other public affiliations.

At the next meeting of the town committee, Mr Melita announced his interest in

running. He eventually beat out Bill Brimmer and Cordalie Benoit in a vote of

the GOP's town committee. Then, he and Mr Brimmer joined forces to become what

Republicans characterize as a strong team.

Though he received more than twice the votes as his closest opponent from the

town committee, Mr Melita said he did not know he had that much support.

Mr Melita, a 20-year Newtown resident and the chairman of the Republican Town

Committee, brings a strong labor negotiating background (he was a former labor

consultant for the town working for Bob Cascella) and a shrewd business sense.

As far as residential development goes, he believes Newtown needs to balance

the needs of the homeowners with the rights of the developers. Mr Melita

points out that Newtown is blessed with both land and location, allowing it to

actively pursue businesses.