Final debate served interest of young voters

Written by Jill Ornitz
Thursday, 05 November 2009 11:06

The Trumbull High School studio was the last battleground for the final debate between Republican candidate Timothy M. Herbst and Democratic Incumbent Raymond G. Baldwin.

During the candidates’ opening statements, Baldwin explained the four key pillars of his campaign: Public safety, great schools, infrastructure and financial stability. Herbst stated the necessity of change and a new generation to take the stage and “restore the promise of Trumbull.”

Issues in the spotlight were the importance of 18- and 19-year-old voters in the Trumbull community, the plans each candidate had for commercial development, the proposal for full day kindergarten in schools that do not yet have space for additional classes, and public safety in relation to the recent Bow Tie Cinemas incident.

The importance of 18- and 19-year-old voters in Trumbull was an issue both candidates said was crucial to the future of our town.

As Herbst explained, “Kids are entering a challenging world, and each generation is faced with one of those challenges. We’re rising to the challenge and leading our country and our state in a new direction. We want to lead our town in the same direction as well.”

Baldwin focused on the community support these voters have received at home.

“Eighteen and 19-year-old voters are the beneficiaries of a great education and community,” he said. “They have lived the experience of Trumbull, are well versed in the election, are intelligent, and have appreciated what the last eight years has given them.”

The commercial future of Trumbull proved to a multi-faceted issue. Herbst said he supported “responsible growth” and cited revisions to regulations that Trumbull’s Planning & Zoning Commission had made after 60 years with him on board.

Baldwin said he wanted to preserve the residential communities in Trumbull, and that Herbst was taking credit for the success of the Planning & Zoning Commission after “all of the heavy lifting was done.”

In terms of full day kindergarten, both candidates agreed that it should be put in place, but with different timing.

“Our Board of Education determines priorities, like class size, technology, curriculum and the Trumbull High School renovation,” Baldwin said. “Full day kindergarten isn’t on the agenda until 2012. We’ll look at availability then.”

Herbst wants to make sure every elementary school in Trumbull is up to par before full day kindergarten is put into place.

“Portables are a safety concern and bad for the educational process,” Herbst said. “Eight year olds are walking with walkie-talkies and keys in between main buildings and portables.

“Some schools are bursting at the seams, and others are underutilized. Enrollment into schools is projected to decrease, and this increase in space will lead to an increase in teacher availability for full day kindergarten. It just won’t happen overnight,” he said.

Even newer issues than full day kindergarten were discussed in the last debate. The recent security incident at Bow Tie Cinemas was a major concern in terms of safety, which both candidates addressed.

Baldwin said that Bow Tie Cinemas is a valuable cornerstone of Trumbull’s community and that “swift actions eliminated injury. We met with Bow Tie, and new security provisions like security cameras and more police officers patrolling the area like the Bridgeport police and the Connecticut Gang Task Force,” would be implemented.

According to Herbst, “Public safety transcends politics. Bow Tie is concerning, and we need more police available. However, Bow Tie is not the only recent security issue in our town. An increase in burglaries has been reported, and it is important that our town police are made aware of that.

“But also, it is important that our citizens work together through neighborhood watch programs to identify and suspicious persons and notify local police,” he said.

As the debate came to a close, it became increasingly clear that this it marked a milestone in the 2009 campaign for both parties.

Working as early as June of this year, both parties have campaigned and worked their hardest to speak with every Trumbull resident and hear their concerns, to make the town better for every resident.

Every demographic of the town was reached, from taxpayers to first time voters, showing the overwhelming interest in this year’s election. This interest has made this election one with much community significance, and will clearly be something that unites Trumbull’s community for the rest of its history.

It can be concluded, and rightfully so, that instead of focusing on typical politics, this election got down to the heart of its purpose: To elect a first selectman capable of keeping Trumbull a strong and thriving community.