Candidates Challenged To Answer And Ask Questions

By JOHN VOKET

Published: Oct 17, 2008 12:00 am

By John Voket

Four candidates all hoping to represent Newtown in Hartford for the next two years will respond to questions posed by residents, and then get a rare chance to square off against each other. This 2008 debate sponsored by The Newtown Bee is set for October 20 featuring all the contenders for both the 106th and 112th District statehouse races.

The debate will take place on stage at Edmond Town Hall from 7:30 to 9 pm.

Incumbent Republican DebraLee Hovey and her 112th District Democratic challenger, Monroe attorney Michelle Mount, along with 106th District contenders Democrat Christopher Lyddy and Republican Will Rodgers have agreed to participate.

Mr Rodgers, an attorney, and Mr Lyddy, a social services worker, currently serve together on the Newtown Legislative Council.

The 112th District encompasses several thousand households in the 3-2 voting district of Newtown, as well as all of the Town of Monroe. The 106th District covers the rest of Newtown.

That seat opens up this term following the announcement that longtime Representative Julia Wasserman is retiring.

According to Bee Editor Curtiss Clark, who will moderate, the candidates will be afforded some time for opening remarks before they will face questions from readers, the newspaperâs editorial staff, and each other.

âI hope a portion of this debate will be interactive, with participants engaging each other in dialogue about some of the most pressing issues facing Newtown and the state,â Mr Clark said.

Newtown residents and Bee readers are invited to submit questions for consideration by email until noon, Monday, October 20. Email questions to editor@thebee.com; anyone submitting by email is asked to indicate âdebate questionsâ in the subject line.

Doors at the town hall theater will open at 7 pm preceding the event. CommuniTVision 21 plans to broadcast and rerun The Newtown Bee debate on its public access channel.

The entire debate will also stream in audio/podcast format beginning October 21 at www.newtownbee.com.

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The Way We Were

The Editor suggest a meeting between the "Rock This Democracy " and the Police Commission. As a former Police Commissioner the Chief should have followed the chain of command and discussed this with the Police Commission. The Chief reports to the Elected Police Commission not our Republican First Selection. Can't help but feel this is Republican politics again making an issue out of a non issue.

Assembly Ordinance?

I support Chief Kullgren’s request to explore permitting, and cost-sharing for large gatherings. The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, and I fully support the constitutional right to free speech and assembly. However, where and how often these protests occur matters. Main Street is not just a symbol — it’s a vital artery for daily life in town. When events are held there monthly, and at increasing scale, they cause disruption to residents, businesses, and traffic. While the Rock This Democracy group may describe these protests as unique or urgent, the frequency — roughly once every two weeks this spring — suggests more of a recurring series than a singular, spontaneous moment of civic expression. This isn’t about silencing anyone. It’s about fairness, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. Every time a protest happens, our police department is forced to assign resources, often on overtime. That expense adds up quickly. If any group wants to use public space regularly, particularly in a way that impacts traffic and requires police presence, then it’s reasonable for the town to consider permitting and cost-sharing — just as we do for other organized events like races, festivals, or parades. Let’s protect everyone’s rights — including the right of the community to function smoothly and the right of taxpayers not to bear undue cost for repeated events. I trust the Council to consider a reasonable path forward that balances speech with responsibility.

David, your passion for transparency would carry more weight if it weren’t routinely wielded like a cudgel. Let's set the record straight: no one is against easier access to documents or better online availability—we all want an informed public. But there's a difference between constructive advocacy and the kind of grandstanding that costs this town time, morale, and taxpayer money. You cite Ridgefield’s practices—great. Let's talk about that like adults. But instead, what we see is a steady stream of accusatory posts, legal challenges, and FOIA blitzes aimed less at solving problems and more at creating headlines. It’s not “slander” to point out that your approach often does more to divide and exhaust than to help. I’ve been at the very meetings you claim are inaccessible or opaque. I’ve seen your group turn logistical hiccups into conspiracy theories. I’ve watched as staff—who already work overtime—are dragged into another fishing expedition while real civic needs are left hanging. You’re not just pushing for access; you’re using the tools of open government to grind its gears to a halt. That’s not progress. That’s obstruction dressed up as advocacy. And the people paying for it—literally—are your neighbors. Let’s stop pretending it’s just about uploading PDFs. The issue here is how we engage. We can have real conversations about modernization without constant accusations, FOIA skirmishes, and Facebook pile-ons. Until then, I’ll continue to call out tactics that undermine, not uplift, our town.

Calls For Policies To Create Greater Transparency

The bottom line is this: costs are up, and no group—including teachers—is exempt. Ignoring Anthem’s recommended 22% increase last year may have directly caused the $2 million shortfall. Everyone has to share in the fix. That might mean higher premiums and leaner benefits. Complaints alone won’t solve the problem—realistic solutions will. I urge all Newtown Teachers to email their Union leaders and express their support for higher premiums.

Discusses Town Self-Funded Insurance Plan

Its really easy to make assertions and cast doubts from behind a keyboard....a little too easy aparently. You might try conducting the actual research BEFORE doing it next time. If you do, you too will find that there's no need to imagine such a policy to improve public transparency and participation. Take a look at Ridgefield's P&Z meeting agendas on their website for starters. They are just one town that provide links to electronic copies of applications and other public documents, so that their commissioners and residents can easily access them and be well-informed, before meetings and public hearings occur and without making them drive to town hall (during business hours) to ask their land use staff to pull the files and make copies of them, saving everyone time (time is money), and gasoline, and missed work. Most applicants alrleady submit electronic copies, and for those who don't, it's a lot easier for a staffer to scan them once, than to have to make copies every time someone asks for them. And please don't misrepresent or slander those who advocate for smart, low impact & sustainable development policies and practices as 'anti-development'.

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Candidates Challenged To Answer And Ask Questions

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