Date: Fri 20-Jun-1997

By STEVE BIGHAM

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

politics-Democrats-endorsement

Full Text:

Democratic Committee Holds Off On Making An Endorsement

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Newtown Democrats had plans to endorse a candidate for first selectman at a

town committee meeting last Thursday. Gary Fetzer's protest helped them change

their minds.

Thirty of the 34 town committee members showed up for last week's meeting at

town hall. The larger-than-normal attendance indicated they were planning to

make a decision on who they were going to support.

Candidate Herb Rosenthal of 70 Main Street said he'd prefer to take a vote,

though he said it was up to the town committee.

Chris Spiro of 12 Grand Place didn't care, saying he didn't expect the

nomination, instead banking on a victory at the caucus.

But Mr Fetzer of 5 Old Bethel Road, who only announced his candidacy June 10,

said he needed more time. He said he had only been notified of an impending

vote two days earlier and needed more time to get his supporters there.

"As long as I can remember, we've endorsed a candidate right before the

caucus, not a month before," he said.

At the start of the meeting, the party's candidates committee recommended not

to endorse anyone until July. The father of Herb Rosenthal, Jack Rosenthal,

however, demanded that a vote be taken because of the large number of town

committee members who had come out.

Surprising some longtime Democrats, Mr Fetzer indicated that he felt the move

to vote was pre-planned in some "smoke-filled room." Town committee chairman

Earl J. Smith disagreed, saying the party has always tried to be fair.

Finally, the town committee voted, 17-12, to table the vote until July 10. The

Democrats have slated a July 17 caucus.

"I thought it was the right thing to do. All I was looking for was an even

playing field. Who knows if another candidate might still come along.

Endorsing now would have been a mistake," Mr Fetzer said.

Sarah Mannix is concerned that a division within the party may occur this

summer. "The Democrats don't know how to win, but they sure know how to lose.

We haven't got enough (Democrats) to divide," she said.

Nevertheless, town committee chairman Earl J. Smith believes having three

candidates is a "very good problem to have." He feels strongly that this could

be the year for the Democratic party to retake the first selectman's seat.

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Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 20-Jun-1997

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