To the Editor:

I write in support of Herb Rosenthal for first selectman. I could give countless examples of why he is the best candidate. Here are some:

Herb Rosenthal delivered a gutsy town budget that was $750,000 less than the year before, a 2.4 percent decrease! Strong leadership by making tough choices.

Herb Rosenthal is a realist. He believes commercial development should fit the town, the town should not be fit to commercial development. As The Newtown Bee and Saving Fairfield Hills Committee correctly point out, it would take more than $100 million dollars in assessed commercial property (that’s over $140 million dollars market value) to offset a single mill. The top ten commercial taxpayers, which include CL&P, Sand Hill, LLC, Harvey Hubbell, The Taunton Press, Curtis Packaging, and Newtown Shopping Village, have a taxable value of only $94 million. Mr Sheluck pushes development and calls on the state to resolve the downtown traffic problem. Perhaps what he doesn’t know is that the state has a solution. The State DOT has long desired to make Main Street a four lane, flagpoleless thoroughfare. Those who have lived in Newtown for a number of years recall the battles fought.

Select commercial development is important! However, it makes little sense to minimally offset taxes at the expense of a four lane, strip-malled, flagppoleless Main Street, or at the expense of hour-long traffic jams through town. Herb Rosenthal recognizes that the acquisition of open space provides a much wiser return on investment. The town has been acquiring substantial properties throughout his term and is positioning to make even more substantial acquisitions.

Herb Rosenthal is correct on Fairfield Hills. It needs a plan! Many, if not most, people who voted for the acquisition expressed some apprehension about not having a plan prior to the vote. Not having a plan means promised ball fields will not get built. To my recreation, travel team, and Blue and Gold friends, this is a serious matter. Moreover, the absence of a plan provides no guarantee of any open space. Without a plan I fear the slick out-of-town developer appearing in five or so years, the grassroots preservation committee disbursed, and the town wooed into an irreversible commercial decision. We don’t need a new town hall. We do need a plan. A plan is proactive. Herb Rosenthal understands this.

Herb Rosenthal strongly supports tax relief for seniors. As he has championed at the Board of Finance meetings, seniors provide diversity and public services to the community, and have earned the right to not be driven from their homes.

Finally, I know Herb Rosenthal because I see him at town meetings, volunteering as a town crier for the Holiday Festival, the Holiday Festival Gala, Newtown Scholarship activities, Rotary functions, to name a few. Herb Rosenthal believes Newtown is a we not me community. His actions substantiate his belief.

In short, Herb Rosenthal has done a good job working both with and for the diverse interests of the community. His knowledge and experience as to the workings of the town are invaluable. A visit to a Board of Finance, Legislative Council, or Board of Selectmen’s meeting will note the numerous inquiries of Herb, often as to matters beyond the town departments he heads. Bill Sheluck means well, but Newtown needs Herb Rosenthal, his knowledge, experience, and leadership.

Jim Gaston

18 Main Street, Newtown                                         October 27, 2003