Candidate statements

Written by The Ridgefield Press
Tuesday, 26 April 2011 12:00

The Press asked for responses no longer than 300 words from the two Republican candidates and the Indepdent Party candidate running for a Board of Selectmen seat in the Wednesday, April 27, special election. The two Republican responses are provided below. Independent Party candidate Tony Di Preta declined to respond.

Why vote for Heiser

by Marty Heiser

Our town finds itself in the middle of a neighborly debate over the importance of the two-party system and balanced government.

When my wife and I first moved to Ridgefield more than 21 years ago, we were attracted by the beautiful Main Street, great schools, a wonderful youth hockey program and comparatively low taxes. I have worked on the Board of Finance for 14 years trying to bring a practical, Republican, fiscally conservative approach to town government.

I have promoted the concept of public/private partnerships like Tiger Hollow, Open Space acquisition through development rights and state grants, and the Playhouse.

I have owned my own business for 35 years. I know what it means to meet a payroll, pay all my taxes and control costs. I have worked to save the taxpayers money. The recent teacher contract, renegotiating bond debt and doggedly hounding Hartford for every last dime we have coming in school construction reimbursement are examples of my work. When the town needed to spend money on school construction through the Bundle, I captured the projected budget impact going forward 10 years and have held town government accountable to those “Yellow Sheet” numbers.

In addition to my qualifications, past performance and experience, I will bring much needed balance to the Board of Selectmen. I do not shy away from asking important questions and making tough decisions. I am not beholden to the party represented by the first selectman and the majority on the Board of Selectmen. When asked if there are any decisions made by the Board of Selectmen over the past few years that I disagree with, I will not be at a loss. (See youtube.com “Ridgefield debate”).

I will be a strong, fiscally conservative, independent, Republican voice for the Republican seat on the Board of Selectmen.

I ask for your vote on April 27.

Why vote for Kozlark

by Maureen Kozlark

My husband and I moved to Ridgefield in 1989 with our two children, both of whom attended Ridgefield public schools kindergarten through grade 12. I am a lifelong Republican but, frankly, question the applicability of party ideology to issues of local government. I view issues and decisions on their merits, not through a political prism. The increase in partisan bickering over the last few years — reaching a high point (actually a low point) with the Republican Town Committee’s insistence on a do-over election for an 11-month term, now just six months remaining, at a taxpayer cost of more than $10,000 — is disgraceful.

Addressing policy differences amongst myself and my two challengers, I believe recent cuts to the Board of Education budget by the Board of Finance were much too substantial. I am concerned that consistent cutting of school budgets by hundreds of thousands of dollars will inevitably reduce the quality of our schools. Efficiencies are required and all constituents must sacrifice, but quality education costs money!

Secondly, our commercial tax base must be broadened. We need to target the Route 7/35 corridor, our downtown and Branchville. We all must double our efforts to patronize local merchants. This will help alleviate the heavy burden of increased property taxes on all of us, especially our senior citizens on fixed incomes.

Finally, we must engage in thoughtful planning for demographic changes in Ridgefield’s school population. Closing schools is disruptive and impacts many of us who settled here in large part because of the high quality neighborhood school system. A measured response to a declining school population should be undertaken with great care and sensitivity to those who will be affected.

It has been my privilege to serve Ridgefield as a selectman and I respectfully ask for your vote on April 27 to continue my service.