PARTY CHAIRMAN COMMENTARY: Vote Republican for proven leadership

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.

Specifically, they have:

(1) Presided, during an economic downfall, over the lowest two-year annualized tax increase of 1.65% since 1994;

(2) Successfully negotiated a solution to the long-standing high-density housing crisis on South Park Avenue;

(3) Achieved, along with the town treasurer and chairman of the Board of Finance, the highest AAA credit rating ever awarded by Standard & Poor’s to Easton, making us one of only 168 municipalities in the nation with this coveted distinction, and

(4) Compassionately supported the Senior Tax Relief Ordinance, which offers more flexible options than any other in the state, to our deserving seniors.

Additionally, recent Connecticut Mastery Test scores were at record-performance levels, ranking Easton students very highly within their District Reference Group (DRG-A) of eight towns, including Redding.

Our school administrators, teachers, Board of Education, students and parents should all be commended for this noteworthy academic accomplishment.

All this, and much more, was accomplished and in a professional, non-partisan environment with the minority Democratic selectman voting with the majority on all but one occasion. Tom and Scott also appointed only the most qualified people to town boards and commissions, regardless of political party affiliation.

More challenges certainly lie ahead in these uncertain — but improving — economic times, such as how to allocate our constrained financial resources to many worthy priorities, always a long-standing topic of deserving debate.

Additionally, we face yet another high-density housing threat by Saddle Ridge, which will need to be defended at all cost and without compromise.

Historically, less than 60% of residents vote at our biannual municipal election; this compares unfavorably with almost a 90% turnout for a presidential election, although what happens in Easton affects each of us in many ways, more so than by what occurs (or doesn’t occur) in Washington, D.C.

Please review the candidates’ position on issues, their credentials (see www.eastonrepublicans.org) and, importantly, their track record of accomplishment. I hope you will then vote to “stay the course” and reelect Tom, Scott and all the proven leaders on the Republican team who delivered so well for Easton and will do so again.

Finally, let me applaud all candidates from all political parties — Republican, Democrat and unaffiliated alike — for volunteering their time and many talents. It is only through the dedicated commitment of over 150 townspeople who conscientiously serve on our various boards and commissions that Easton is run so well and that we enjoy protective zoning regulations, an acclaimed school system, an outstanding new senior center and many other vital town services.

Please seriously consider getting involved by contacting either your party leadership or your first selectman, Tom Herrmann.

Hugh J. Barry is chairman of the Easton Republican Town Committee.