Date: Fri 31-Oct-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Neighborhood-Coalition

Full Text:

Neighborhood Coalition Declines To Endorse A Candidate

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Newtown Neighborhood Coalition (NNC) announced this week that it has no

plans to endorse either Herb Rosenthal or Russ Melita for first selectman.

"From a development perspective, we're not making an endorsement," said Kurt

Gillis, a spokesperson for the coalition.

The NNC is a grassroots organization formed in an effort to control Newtown's

rapid development. It had been supporting Democrat Gary Fetzer, an outspoken

conservation candidate, who lost to Mr Rosenthal at a Democratic primary in

September.

The group met with both Mr Rosenthal and Mr Melita this fall and found that

each was saying a lot of what the group wanted to hear. Also, Mr Gillis said,

the NNC is made up of people from all parties, making an endorsement that much

more difficult.

As Mr Gillis pointed out, Mr Melita wanted to focus on increasing lot sizes,

creating more open space, and spending money for consultants to help re-write

the town's zoning regulations.

The group liked what they heard regarding Mr Rosenthal's aggressive stance on

Fairfield Hills and its future. Also, the Democratic candidate voiced his

willingness to sit down with the neighborhood groups to listen to suggestions

on how the regulations could be improved.

"It would have been a disservice to endorse one over the other," Mr Gillis

said.

He also pointed out that neither candidate had expressed a public opinion on

the development issue prior to the campaign. Following the September

Democratic primary, Mr Gillis said his greatest worry is that after the

election, nothing will have changed in Newtown regarding its current land-use

situation.

"Neither guy had a long track record," Mr Gillis explained. "Gary Fetzer had

at least talked about his position. These guys we had to get to know a little

bit better."