PARTY CHAIRMAN COMMENTARY: Vote Republican for proven leadership

Written by Hugh J. Barry
Friday, 30 October 2009 19:36

Your First Selectman Tom Herrmann and Selectman Scott Centrella have proven to be good listeners and skilled leaders, unafraid of making the tough decisions in the best interests of Easton.

They have more than fulfilled their campaign promises and deserve your support for another term of office.

PARTY CHAIRMAN COMMENTARY: Vote Democrat for balance, openness

Written by Ron Kowalski
Friday, 30 October 2009 19:34

On Election Day, we will again elect fellow citizens to serve in our town government. From first selectman to town clerk, those elected next Tuesday will have a real and immediate impact on your quality of life.

Voting is an important civic responsibility. Please encourage every voter in your household to cast an informed vote.

CANDIDATE COMMENTARY: New direction while retaining Easton values

Written by Chris Neubert
Friday, 30 October 2009 19:14

Elections set the course for the future, and Easton’s first selectman’s race is no different

I made the important decision to run for this office because the core values held dear by Easton residents are at a “tipping point,” and it is now time for a real change.

CANDIDATE COMMENTARY: Experience, dedication and effective leadership

Written by Thomas Herrmann
Friday, 30 October 2009 19:16

What an honor and pleasure it has been serving as your first selectman. I am profoundly grateful for the community’s support these past two years.

When I was elected, our long-standing zoning regulations were threatened by a high-density housing project on South Park Avenue. Five months later, we came together as a town and approved a complicated but effective solution: lease/sale to a prayer center that is currently on track.

CANDIDATE RESPONSES: Scott Centrella, Selectman

Friday, 23 October 2009 15:54

Scott Centrella, a Republican, is running for selectman. He currently serves as a selectman.

What needs to change in Easton, if anything?

Easton needs to look critically as our budget process, how we establish priorities and how we spend our money. The Board of Selectmen has just created a Tax Analysis Task Force charged with analyzing how Easton spends its tax dollars on an absolute and relative basis as compared to comparable towns in an appropriate reference group. The purpose is, in part, to provide us with relevant, objective data to assist decision-making in the next budget cycle.

CANDIDATE RESPONSES: Bob Lessler, Selectman

Friday, 23 October 2009 15:47

Bob Lessler, a Democrat, is running for selectman. He currently serves as a selectman.

What needs to change in Easton, if anything?

Let’s end one-party control of town government. Truly competitive elections would inspire both political parties to perform better. From 2003 to 2005, when Democrats won several contested seats, great things were accomplished, and both parties worked harder and smarter. Easton was better off for it. Let’s try a Democratic led Board of Selectmen with a Democratic first selectman. Let’s have a balanced Board of Finance and Democratic representation on the Region 9 Board of Education.

CANDIDATE RESPONSES: Tom Partridge, Board of Finance

Friday, 30 October 2009 20:05

Tom Partridge, a Democrat, is running for a two-year seat on the Board of Finance. He is a member of the Board of Finance.

Name and explain two ways to improve the town’s finances.

1) Continue to support the growth of Easton Country Day. Vibrant private schools save taxpayers millions in the long run, and in this case benefit us with lease payments. 2) Special use zoning in Easton currently allows for churches, private schools, art galleries and recreational development. I would like to add to this list bed and breakfast facilities; country inns consistent with our rural character would preserve the land while increasing tax revenue.

CANDIDATE RESPONSES: Mark Pompa, Board of Finance

Friday, 30 October 2009 20:08

Mark Pompa, a Republican, is running for a two-year seat on the Board of Finance. He currently is a member of the Board of Finance.

Name and explain two ways to improve the town’s finances.

With Easton’s tax base being primarily residential, and household incomes at best stable in the current economic climate, the Board of Finance needs to continue its efforts to minimize core cost escalation through either more strategic procurement of supplies/services as well as the cost of insurance/benefits. The combination of the foregoing with an activity-based budgeting methodology will yield the most efficient spending structure that can enhance/preserve town services while minimizing overall spending escalation.

CANDIDATE RESPONSES: Art Laske, Board of Finance

Friday, 30 October 2009 19:57

Art Laske, a Democrat, is running for a six-year seat on the Board of Finance. He currently is an alternate on the Board of Finance.

Name and explain two ways to improve the town’s finances.

Replace a Republican on the Board of Finance with a Democrat, thereby returning the balance and fairness of three Republican votes and three Democratic votes. This year’s budget process was unresponsive to the concerns of the entire community, particularly the interests of parents of school children, when the four majority Republican votes dictated the end result of the budget process without adequately considering the interests of the entire community. Or secondly, elect a 4-2 Democratic majority.

CANDIDATE RESPONSES: Chris Griffin, Board of Finance

Friday, 30 October 2009 19:59

Christian Griffin, a Republican, is running for a six-year seat on the Board of Finance.

Name and explain two ways to improve the town’s finances.

One way to improve the town’s finances is to elect people whose first thought is to explore creative solutions for stretching our tax dollars and not playing party politics. With property values down and revenues under stress, this is not time to put politics above the common needs of Easton. Next, we need to continuously improve the high standards set by our schools. A strong school system will attract people to our town, improve the value of our homes and increase our revenue without increasing taxes.