NewCanaanite.com received the following letters of endorsement for the municipal election coming Nov. 5. As we outlined in July, no further letters will be published. If you submitted a letter prior to the end of Monday, Oct. 28 and it hasn’t appeared, please notify editor Michael Dinan at editor@newcanaanite.com. If it got lost in an email inbox, we will add it to this post.
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New Canaan’s responsive and pro-active Republican leadership has given residents affordable taxes, top-rated schools, kept our town vibrant and the envy of our neighbors. These are the reasons we all moved here. Let’s keep it that way.
Today we have more commuter parking than ever before, no wait list at Talmadge Hill, solar and natural gas at our schools and town buildings, improving senior services, are expanding cell service coverage, and developed a fully transparent and nationally recognized budget process that reduced the budget in 2019 and kept it flat for 2020.
In the 2018 Connecticut State gubernatorial and legislative elections, many voters thought they were sending a message by voting against Republicans. Instead, what they really voted for was un-restrained one party state government, school regionalization, tolls, higher taxes and new taxes such as a grocery tax. Now Hartford wants to decide local school start times instead of us and even New Canaan’s traffic patterns. Don’t’ let this happen. Don’t let the Hartford “way” become the New Canaan “way.”
Every one of our Republican candidates has a long history of volunteerism and community service to New Canaan – well before government. Keep New Canaan’s government local and Republican. I urge you to vote for Kevin Moynihan and Nick Williams for First Selectman and Selectman, Steve Karl, Cristina Aguirre-Ross, Mike Mauro, and Maria Naughton for Town Council, Carl Gardiner, Julie Mackle-Reeves and Bob Naughton for Board of Education. And support the rest of our superb Republican candidates by voting Row B.
Patrick F. Donovan
Chairman, New Canaan Republican Town Committee
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Dear Editor,
I urge the citizens of New Canaan to take a close look at the candidates running for local office in this year’s election. We are fortunate to have many individuals who are willing to volunteer their time and energy to serve our Town government. Last week the League of Women Voters hosted its debate, and I encourage you to take the time to watch it on Channel 79.
I would like to thank our Slate of Democratic candidates for stepping up to run for office. Craig Donovan is challenging the First Selectman incumbent because he believes New Canaan residents deserve a government that is more transparent and inclusive when making important decisions. Using his professional expertise, Craig seeks to construct a vision for our town and to follow that vision in order to achieve our goals. Kit Devereaux is running for reelection to her seat on the Board of Selectmen. A highly experienced public servant, Kit has the familiarity with town issues to make sure our government is run efficiently. We have three outstanding candidates for Town Council: Robin Bates-Mason, Colm Dobbyn, and Mark Grzymski. Each of these candidates brings a different background and is uniquely qualified to serve. Our current Board of Education Chair Brendan Hayes seeks reelection and is passionate about ensuring that our schools remain the best in the state. BOE candidate Steve Eno is running because he is passionate about school start times and wants to move that issue forward.
Fellow New Canaan residents, you have a choice this year. Voter registration reflects the fact that there is no longer a majority party in New Canaan. I urge you to get out and vote for the candidates you feel will best do the job, and for me, that means supporting the Democrats in Row A next Tuesday, November 5th.
Sincerely,
Christina Fagerstal
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Editor:
Relocating from California in 1997 with a 5th and 3rd grader and a kindergartener, we picked New Canaan as our destination because of the quality of its schools. I ran for election in 2001 because I thought my particular demographic – a New York City commuter with kids in the educational system – was underrepresented in town government at that time. A review of the membership of today’s governing bodies could lead one to a similar observation.
After 18 years of public service on the Board of Education, Board of Finance and Town Council I decided to not seek reelection this year. I am happy to endorse Brendan Hayes and Mark Grzymski as two very capable candidates who can best champion the views of parents and commuters. Both understand the sacrifices commuters make and the investments they are willing to fund to continue our school system’s tradition of excellence and evaluate improvements to our transportation infrastructure.
During campaign season it seems that every candidate is a strong proponent of public education, but last April six members of the Town Council rejected the Board of Finance’s recommended budget to pursue deeper cuts in school spending. (The First Selectman broke the tie and the sought-after additional cuts were avoided.) I’m a fan of Mills’ enlightened self-interest philosophy, and strongly believe Brendan and Mark will bring their experience and skills to bear for the benefit of all of New Canaan.
Jim Kucharczyk
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My wife, Katie and I are in support of Kevin and Nick for reelection. We are raising our family in town and Kevin and Nick’s vision, transparency, thoughtfulness, execution and track record make them the right team for our town. Their ability to work with the Town, understand concerns, prioritize issues and put projects in motion is imperative for New Canaan to stay competitive with surrounding towns. Their support of the organizations that further the interests of our community specifically the New Canaan Athletic Foundation, has been encouraging and demonstrates the commitment to town initiatives. Their focus on commuter issues, specifically parking, is imperative to allowing young families to live in our town. They were able to successfully address this long standing issue by thinking outside the “box” and have made tremendous strides for our town commuters. For these reasons, and many others, we will be voting for Kevin and Nick on November 5th.
Katie and James Dunning
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Municipal elections will be held on Tuesday, November 5th. It is critical to have candidates who know the town, have experience working through and solving local issues and have a successful track record. Fortunately for us in New Canaan, we have Kevin Moynihan running for First Selectman and Nick Williams running for Selectman. Kevin and Nick have represented all our community interests in the past and will continue to do so going forward. They value our schools and promote public safety while exercising common sense budgeting. They have supported many quality of life issues like Get About, the library renovation, expanded parking and youth sports. If we want to keep the New Canaan that we all desire, then we need to elect competent and trusted individuals. I believe that Kevin Moynihan and Nick Williams have those qualities and deserve our vote. Please join with me on November 5th and vote for Kevin and Nick.
Paul Foley
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Kevin Moynihan, in these short two years serving as New Canaan’s First Selectman, has demonstrated smart and dedicated leadership with a vision for the town’s future and growth. As a student at New Canaan High School, I have seen firsthand the impact of the Moynihan Williams administration’s efforts, investing heavily into New Canaan’s excellent school system so it will remain the top rated school district in Connecticut, while maintaining fiscal integrity and passing budgets representative of the town’s needs. The Moynihan Williams administration is a champion of the Public-Private partnership with the New Canaan Athletic Foundation that has enhanced New Canaan’s top notch athletic facilities, like the new turf fields at New Canaan High School, and the upgraded facilities at Waveny Park led by the Waveny Conservancy whose concept he spearheaded. This administration has proven results, with future initiatives for even further improvements. As a student at New Canaan High School, a first time voter, and having had the opportunity to get to know both Kevin and Nick personally through this campaign first hand , I am confident in their continued commitment to our town’s excellent school system. Please join me as I give First Selectman Moynihan, Selectman Nick Williams, and the rest of the Republican town official candidates my full support this election.
Brian Hartz, NCHS Senior
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To the editor,
On November 5th, we encourage New Canaan voters to re-elect Nick Williams as Town Selectman.
We’ve known Nick for 20 years and he has a long track record of prudent judgement, driving results that are in the best interests of the town. His experience leads to invaluable understanding of town policies, procedures, and spending.
At a time when our town disbursements need to become increasingly careful, Nick understands both balance and the purse strings. As we all know, the school budget is over 2/3rds of our town budget. Nick understands that budget, having served on our school board for 4 years and being elected chairman of that board by his bipartisan peers. Now he has been a Selectman for the last 8 years, where his wise counsel is important and effective.
As a leader and tireless volunteer for New Canaan, Nick deserves our vote.
Sincerely,
Rick & Marianna Kilbride
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If you’re an education voter, Colm’s first priority is to maintain NCPS excellence through funding.
If you’re an environment voter, Colm has served on the Wetlands Commission for nearly 15 years and will protect our town’s character.
If you’re a tax voter, Colm will push for operating budget efficiency and capital spending restraint.
If you want to be heard, Colm is sincerely committed to a more “bottom up” not “top down” Town government.
I ask you to please vote for Colm Dobbyn, a friendly long-time resident on November 5th.
Sven Englund
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I am writing this letter in support of my good friend Nick Williams. I’ve known Nick for 30 years since he began dating, and later married, my very dear NCHS friend Whitney. But I’m not supporting Nick simply because he is my friend; I’m supporting Nick because I believe that he has been an outstanding public servant for our town over the past 12 years, whether in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Education or, since 2011, as Selectman.
Despite maintaining a full-time job in New York City as a senior law partner (and having commuted there since 1993), Nick has worked tirelessly to make New Canaan a better town. He is approachable, friendly, open-minded, and always willing to hear both sides of a political debate. These qualities are too often missing in our political discourse today.
Nick has great ideas too. The tremendous success of the athletics field public-private partnership has been in large part due to Nick’s initiative a decade ago. More recently, Nick has supported reviewing the benefits of eliminating metered parking downtown and renovating our sub-par animal control shelter.
In the current environment – with the prospect of decreasing funding from our state and increasing efforts by that same state to promote regionalization of our schools and other town institutions – we need Nick more than ever to protect New Canaan.
I strongly encourage you to vote for Nick Williams on Tuesday, November 5th.
Laura Celaya Wilson
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I am writing to express my support for First Selectman Kevin Moynihan and Selectman Nick Williams. I have lived in New Canaan for four years, having moved from Greenwich. I am impressed with their efforts to keep New Canaan among the top towns in Connecticut.
As the most recent Newcomers Club President, we worked with Kevin Moynihan’s Tourism and Economic Development Advisory Committee to articulate the need of new families to New Canaan. One of the needs identified is the lack of daycare options. I am impressed that Kevin & Nick are already working on a solution to this identified need. This is one example of collaborative, responsive, smart leadership that they have brought to town in the past two years.
Their green initiatives include bringing solar power to town and expanding natural gas. These projects will help save the environment and save the town money. They have worked to form public/private partnerships that have increased the number of playing fields and will help to sustain them indefinitely for our community to enjoy. They are strong supporters of our schools and are committed to maintaining their overall top rating. I read that they are bringing free parking to downtown to help support local businesses and continue to make our downtown vibrant.
Kevin and Nick are fiscally conservative (bringing in a negative budget this year) collaborative and responsive to the town’s needs. Please vote for Kevin and Nick.
Julie Toal
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As a candidate for First Selectman, Craig Donovan respects the rights and opinions of all citizens in our Town and supports community engagement in long-range planning for New Canaan’s future.
Craig and his campaign team have knocked on thousands of doors over the last several months to meet with citizens who have shared their opinions on taxes, education, infrastructure, commutation, childcare, open space, parking, preservation, public safety, among many other priorities.
Professionally, as an educator and respected advisor for municipal and state governments, Craig brings a fresh perspective to best practices in leadership, conservative fiscal management and overall governance. Craig is a committed advocate for Town management that is strengthened through transparency, inclusiveness and engaged diversity.
In 2017, the race for First Selectman was decided by just 33 votes out of a total of over 5,000 – underscoring the value and importance of exercising our civic rights to run for elected office and to vote in elections for public officials.
Your opinion matters. Your vote matters. Please join me in supporting Craig Donovan for First Selectman and Kit Devereaux for Selectman on Tuesday, November 5th.
Contested elections in New Canaan add to the vibrancy of our democracy and enrich the character of our community. I have great respect and appreciation for all candidates who demonstrate the courage to run for office and the commitment to serve as dedicated volunteers of our Town Council.
As a former Councilman, I am especially honored to endorse three new and inspiring candidates – Robin Bates-Mason, Colm Dobbyn and Mark Grzymski – each of whom will bring to the Town Council fresh energy, new perspective, diverse experience and a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility.
Collectively, these terrific candidates strongly support our excellent school system and are committed to finding efficiencies to reduce our tax burden. Individually, they bring a diverse set of invaluable skills to the table. Robin Bates-Mason is a tireless advocate of environmental sustainability as co-founder and head of Planet New Canaan; Colm Dobbyn is an accomplished intellectual property lawyer and dedicated commissioner of our Inland Wetlands; and Mark Grzymski is an experienced professional in finance and investments.
If you are uninspired by the status quo, I encourage you to vote for new Town Council representation on Tuesday, November 5th and help to elect Robin, Colm and Mark from “Row A” of the ballot. Your vote matters and is gratefully appreciated.
Sincerely,
Kathleen A. Corbet
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I only had to meet Robin once to know that New Canaan could benefit from her leadership. She is one of the most dedicated people I have ever encountered. Robin, a committed, yet realistic environmentalist, started Planet New Canaan approximately a year and a half ago. I serve with her on the board of this organization, and I have been blown away by her leadership skills and her knowledge of our town. She has organized film screenings, speakers, river and beach cleanups, sustainable education programs for youth, and the BYO bag campaign among other initiatives. I have seen her work with town council, the transfer station, the chamber of commerce, restaurant owners and environmental groups from neighboring towns. She is also involved in many other town organizations as she has a passion for volunteer work that benefits our residents. Robin knows how to work well with many stakeholders and she does so in an honest and forthright manner. Please vote for Robin Bates-Mason for Town Council on November 5. She is exactly the type of leader we need right now.
Margot Bright
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Robin Bates-Mason has a long-standing track record of working to improve New Canaan, and will be an incredible addition to Town Council. I had the pleasure of working with Robin and other supporters last fall as we launched BYO New Canaan, which led to a well-received ordinance to ban the use of single use plastic bags. A key to this success was the inclusive approach Robin employed to work with all stake holders: businesses, Town Council, the Chamber and citizens to develop an approach tailored for our town. Robin has a track record of doing the work, from co-founding Planet New Canaan, to raising her hand to handle publicity for the League of Women Voters, to working with the NC Beautification League. Robin is smart, fiscally astute, and with her finance background understands the challenges and opportunities facing New Canaan. As a six year member of the Board of Finance, I realize what an asset her grasp of the Town’s financials is, as this will allow her to hit the ground running as we move into budget season.
Support Robin to add a hardworking, knowledgeable, team player to our Town Council.
Amy Murphy Carroll
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Dear Editor,
I support Cristina A. Ross for re-election to Town Council. She is a well-established, respected member of our community with great character and integrity. I have known her for more than a dozen years.
Cristina has been an architect for 25 years, whose professional work encompasses projects in New York City, Pennsylvania and New Canaan, including her design of the New Canaan Nature Center buildings. Her architectural background led her to volunteer with the New Canaan Historical Society, the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Waveny House ADA Compliance Committee. As a member of Town Council, Cristina has helped to save the Outback building, advocated the preservation of New Canaan history through its architecture, and served as a proponent for New Canaan bonding parameters. She is the author of Mid Century Houses Today, which discusses these houses in New Canaan.
In addition to her architectural interests, Cristina has been involved in many non-profit and civic organizations, including New Canaan Mounted Troop, New Canaan Cares, Young Women’s League, League of Women Voters, New Canaan Historical Society, Parks and Recreation Commission, and Open Space and Conservation Commission.
Cristina is passionately dedicated to New Canaan. Her active participation through the years has provided her with a valuable, balanced perspective on our town and its people. I urge you to re-elect Cristina A. Ross on November 5, 2019 to our Town Council.
William D. Gardner
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Kevin and Nick continue to focus on what keeps New Canaan special including supporting our great schools, our beautiful and vibrant downtown, while expanding and improving our infrastructure including solar, natural gas and additional commuter parking. Working with the Board of Finance, our total debt and debt expenses are lower. Our spending decreased last year for the first time in over a decade. And they will work hard to keep the mill rate flat or even decline in this year’s upcoming budget after last year’s increase due to the revaluation.
Kevin and Nick work tirelessly on your behalf, with honesty and openness. And they welcome your input. They pushed back on the leadership in Hartford’s plan to take over and regionalize our school system. We cannot let our guard down regarding the continual ‘land grabs’ and financial burdens Hartford leadership wants New Canaan to pay. Kevin and Nick, working with other leaders in Fairfield County, won’t give in to that financial, legal, and political pressure, and will resist those actions that will hurt the quality and financial strength of New Canaan long term. Continue to call or email them and bring them your ideas and suggestions. They work hard for you.
Todd Lavieri
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November 5th offers an exciting opportunity for New Canaan’s voters. We have a choice in several areas, including Town Council. I encourage voters to look carefully at the candidates and choose those that best fit your values. In my opinion, Colm Dobbyn, rises to the top of Town Council choices. He has already made significant contributions to Town on the Inland Wetlands Commission, of which he has been a member for 14 years. He is diligent and thoughtful in the execution of his duties. He is always prepared and does whatever is necessary to get the job done right. I have no doubt he will use his many skills to serve with thoughtfulness and distinction. I encourage you to vote for Colm Dobbyn for Town Council on November 5th.
Beth Jones
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Rarely do elected officials like Selectman Nick Williams come along. As New Canaan residents of nearly 25 years, who raised three children through the wonderful school system, we are honored to be represented by someone with so much passion for all the things that make our town great. His vision for the town has always been about making forward progress without losing that “Next Station to Heaven” charm. From pioneering numerous safety improvements around the school system to promoting beloved town events (all while keeping a watchful eye on the budget), Nick tackles every one of our town’s issues with a full heart and pragmatic mind. Nick’s record on paper is impressive, but even more impressive is how involved he is in the community and how approachable he is to his neighbors and constituents. We are proud to call the Williams family friends and just as proud to call Nick our town Selectman.
Jay and Pam Greenblatt
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At the League of Women Voters debate last Wednesday, a key difference between the First Selectman candidates became clear: process vs. substance.
Craig Donovan recommended a process for municipal governance that was impressive, and we should consider implementing some of his ideas. But does that mean Craig would be an effective First Selectman? We just don’t know.
Craig is a professor at Kean University and has been a consultant to municipalities in New Jersey. For more than a year he has been observing how our Town government operates, which is admirable. But he hasn’t served as a volunteer in any governmental or nonprofit organizations in New Canaan and has never held elective office.
Kevin Moynihan, in contrast, bases his re-election campaign on his proven ability to act, lead, and get things done. He doesn’t claim to have expertise in academic theories, but he does tirelessly study best practices on a broad range of relevant policy issues. He continues to be a student of New Canaan government and has attended hundreds of meetings and events to stay in touch with everything going on in Town. He has extensive volunteer experience with local service organizations and has served four years on Town Council.
It’s certainly important that we follow a good process for governing in New Canaan, but a process must be judged by the results it creates.
An example is the Aquarion water tower in Waveny Park, which holds antennae that serve about 30 percent of New Canaan’s cell phone calls. When Aquarion formally notified the Town that the antennae had to be permanently removed, many of us thought it was time to begin a process to select alternate locations (at least two would be needed). That process would have been time-consuming, painfully controversial and expensive.
Kevin’s approach? He steadfastly refused to back down and found ways to exert pressure on Aquarion until they caved. The antennae will remain in place indefinitely. The payoff to New Canaan is enormous.
We don’t know what Craig Donovan could accomplish as First Selectman, but we know what Kevin Moynihan already has accomplished. It’s reasonable to expect a lot more victories to come. Our choice of First Selectman is not a difficult one.
Tom Butterworth
Tom is on the New Canaan Town Council but writes in his personal capacity.
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I am writing to urge your support of Maria Naughton for the New Canaan Town Council. Anyone who has been engaged in the work of town bodies will have observed her dedication and forthrightness these last 4 years on the Board of Education; and, prior to that, her keen insight, sharp pen and original reporting for her “Education Matters” column. On the BOE, she always showed a willingness to ask the difficult question, with her constituents consistently at the forefront of her pursuits. With her impressive and extensive background in education, business and Real Estate, I know she will be an important voice as the town moves through the upcoming year, pursuing transparency as usual, always with the interests of her constituents as her driving force. Please join me this Election Day in pulling the lever (or, far less dramatically, filling in the bubble) for Maria Naughton for Town Council.
Catherine O’Neill
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I have had the pleasure of serving on the town council with Cristina Ross for the last four years. In that time, I have seen the passion, dedication and expertise that makes her such a valued member of the town’s legislative body. Cristina is an accomplished architect with extensive experience in both residential and commercial projects, her vast knowledge has benefitted the entire council when comprehensive projects come before us under land use, infrastructure, and ADA compliance. In addition, her dedication to historic preservation has earned recognition from professional nonprofits that share the same vision, certainly benefitting the character of our beautiful town. In closing, I am most impressed with Cristina’s ability to bring forward her thoughtful perspectives, delivered in an absolute transparent package that consistently benefit all taxpayers. Lastly, there is an obvious obligation for our town to find the correct balance to provide excellent services at affordable pricing. Cristina, by nature, is a fiscally responsible public servant who is not afraid to ask the hard questions that often avoid unnecessary spending of tax dollars. Please join me in supporting Cristina Aguirre-Ross for re-election to the Town Council.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph R. Paladino
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As a third generation New Canaanite and local business owner I will be casting my vote on November 5th in support for Team Moynihan/Williams. I have had the pleasure to know Nick Williams and his entire family and I’m grateful for the friendship that our families have forged. Integrity, fair and humor are just a few attributes that I have witnessed and admired when spending time with Nick. Both Kevin and Nick are approachable and have demonstrated their willingness to listen and act in a bipartisan way for the betterment of our town. In addition, my decision is founded on tangible results listed below and their proven ability to lead New Canaan forward with progressive ideas and initiatives.
- Budget Control – Decrease in its annual budget (-.56%) for 2020 for the first time in more than 10 years at the same time supporting the BOE budget
- Awarded Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (CAFR) by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report
- Supporting Public/Private partnerships- New Canaan Athletic Foundation/Waveny Park Conservancy
- Formed Tourism and Economic Development Advisory Committee (TEDAC) to promote local businesses and attract new residents to NC
- Greener NC – Installed the first solar energy to town-owned buildings, supported the natural gas initiative and Town Acquisition Fund
Significant expansion of commuter parking through Boxcar app, eliminated the waitlist at Talmadge Hill Station and initiated a study to remove metered parking
Please join me in voting for Team Moynihan/Williams as their leadership will continue to enrich New Canaan and all its residents.
Pete Deane
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Early this year Sen. Martin Looney (D), Sen. Bob Duff (D) and their colleagues pushed bills in Hartford that would have forced regionalization upon our public schools. Regionalization was a particularly contentious issue. Senate bills SB-457 and SB-738 passed the General Assembly’s Education Committee along strict party lines.
The excellence of New Canaan’s schools is a source of great community pride. Therefore, it was no surprise when New Canaan parents shouted their disapproval of regionalization. Community members wrote letters of opposition and even went to Hartford to voice their concerns. As an example, letters of opposition from Bob Naughton, Republican candidate for the Board of Education, and his wife can be found on the Public Hearing page of the state’s website. I did not find letters of opposition from either of the Democrat Board of Education candidates.
Rarely does our Board of Education wade into partisan debates. Most matters receive a broad response. However, those matters are not the most threatening issues that our schools face. The people who represent us on the Board of Education should reflect the sentiment of our parents. They should boldly protect our schools when we face contentious issues. Bob Naughton was one of the concerned parents who helped defend our schools.
Protect our schools. Vote for Bob Naughton.
Jack Hawkins
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Steve and his family moved to New Canaan largely for its excellent schools and have lived in town for nine years. He has two daughters, a college sophomore who graduated from NCHS and an 8th grader at Saxe. Steve is seeking to serve on the Board of Education.
Through my involvement in the Healthy School Start Times initiative, I have seen how important it is for the BOE to be responsive to residents and to be the voice of the community it represents, whether the topic is school start times, the budget, state mandates or other issues. Steve has great ideas to improve community engagement. For example, it can be hard for many parents to attend BOE meetings and speak during the public comment period. Steve would propose allowing for written public comments to be distributed to BOE members and documented in the meeting minutes. He also has ideas to improve governance (e.g. more formal votes), transparency (e.g. BOE representation on administration committees) and healthy debate in decision making.
I hope you will join me in voting for Steven Eno for BOE. Please visit www.SteveForBOE to learn more about his ideas and where he stands on the issues.
Karen Willett
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We’ve all been living through it for nearly two years: streets in complete disrepair with potholes, cracks and new uneven patches of blacktop emerging weekly; backhoes and front end loaders parked on city streets during weekends and holidays; traffic diversions, noise at all hours. And this is just the start. Though the gas main will be completed soon (I think?), connecting homes to the gas network over the next few years will require ripping up the streets every single time. It’s my understanding that there was another way to do this that could have prevented this outcome. The gas main might have been laid out in a way that would have minimized street construction, but that didn’t come up during the contract negotiations because nobody pushed for it. The current administration eliminated the utility commission. Had there been one, it’s likely that consequences such as these would have been flagged and discussed.
Perhaps the commission might have questioned the move to gas itself. Despite what others have said in these pages, natural gas is not clean. While it’s better than fuel oil, it still contributes mightily to the climate crisis, and within a few years won’t make a lot of financial sense. In fact, many cities and towns around the U.S. are scrambling to get off gas for these very reasons. Yet New Canaan decided to double down on obsolete technology and subject its residents to an expensive, disruptive project that will have to operate for decades in order to pay for itself. How forward-looking.
Sadly, this kind of decision-making is par for the course in this town, where the image it has of being one of the most desirable places to live in the country doesn’t quite match the reality: our infrastructure is crumbling, our housing market is depressed, our train service is unreliable and we’re not investing in the amenities people want now and in the coming years. Where is the vision? If the current administration has one, it would be a surprise, because they tend to make decisions behind closed doors, amongst their partisan cronies.
This is why Craig Donovan is such a breath of fresh air. He understands that business-as-usual is not working, and wants to find out what will. He knows that the quality of our schools won’t be enough to attract new residents and grow the tax base. He wants us all to think about what kind of town we want to be in 20 years, which I assure you is a question that anyone looking to buy a home in this community is also asking. Right now, we don’t have answers. But Craig will employ transparency and best government practices in getting us all come up with some. Crucially, Craig understands the unique cultural and natural assets we have in this town and how to leverage them for maximum gain. In short, he wants to solve the real underlying issues facing our town, and not just put out the fires.
There’s been one-party rule in this town for nearly a century, and look where it’s getting us. It’s time for a change, and Craig Donovan is primed to lead it.
Drew Magratten
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My husband and I are writing in support of Carl Gardiner as representative to the Board of Education. New Canaan’s public schools are a jewel of our town and the most important factor in attracting families. Given the constraints resulting from the state’s economic problems, continued success will require intelligence, effort and creativity on the part of our BOE leadership. In the debates and other forums, Carl has stood out for his thoughtful approach to the many issues facing the Board of Education today. His 30 years in finance give him the toolset we now need more than ever to continue school excellence while maximizing cost efficiency.
Carl has emphasized his commitment to the health and well-being of all students in the district. Parents understandably have diverse, passionate views about changing school start times. Carl has shown great sensitivity to these many views, while taking a constructive approach by focusing on the core solution of optimizing bus routes. It’s a great example of the character and capability Carl brings to the Board of ED.
Please join me in supporting Carl Gardiner on November 5th for the future of New Canaan Public Schools.
Elizabeth and Lennox Stuart
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As someone who has lived in New Canaan for the last 20 years’ and moved here for work, I found that New Canaan reminded me of my hometown in Massachusetts. Living here, within walking distance of downtown was a real plus, which greatly reduced my commuting time. The Town has some really great pluses: a quaint town center and several wonderful parks for walking but there are some big issues that still need to be resolved. I am an unaffiliated voter who looks at the people and the problems, not the party, in deciding who to vote for and what to support. I feel that there are different ways of doing things. Here in New Canaan, we have been doing them the same way, with the same people, for far too long. We need to find “new” eyes to help our Town move forward.
Look no further than this current election. The Republicans held a fundraiser at a Country Club and have been running tons of expensive ads in our print and online media. Craig Donovan and the Democrat’s have focused on walking every one of our 347 streets, knocking on thousands of doors, to actually meet us and hear our issues and concerns. His wife, Liz, was last seen at the Transfer station over the weekend talking to everyone who was driving in. He and his wife stopped at my condo and asked what was most important to me. He listened and I know he will help resolve some of my concerns Craig has held dozens of Listens and Learns in homes all across New Canaan. You decide…ads aimed at us, or face to face conversations with us?
The new challenges we face and the new times before us, need new leaders with new approaches and new ideas. New Canaan needs new leadership. That is just a small part of why I am voting for Craig Donovan for First Selectman and urge you to as well.
Barbara Wilson
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Bob is a homeowner and a fiscal conservative. His four children attended the New Canaan Public School system and he has worked more than a decade as Chief Technology Officer for a leading educational company. Bob’s experience makes him well qualified to deal with the issues that will be important in the Board of Education’s next session: budget, changing school start times, and overseeing what our children are taught. Most importantly, in the years I have known Bob, I have learned that he believes strongly that our elected officials need to be transparent, follow proper procedure, and have community involvement. Our town will be well served with Bob on the Board of Education.
Please join me in voting for Bob Naughton on Election Day.
Dan LaGattuta
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Editor, Newcanaanite,
I have been a resident of New Canaan since 1991, and for the first time feel compelled to speak out publicly on a local town election.
Notwithstanding the fact that I am a life-long Republican, I am supporting Craig Donovan in his bid to become First Selectman. The reason for this choice is threefold.
First, I think party labels in local elections are not particularly important. It is rather the perspective and experience an individual candidate brings to job.
Secondly, I believe change is necessary, whether it be in the business world or in government. New Canaan has had the same party governing our town for years. Having the same people in power for year after year encourages complacency and discourages creativity. The town has had a range of issues over the years from getting its fiscal house in order to the lack of cell phone coverage in sections of town. I think it’s time for a fresh look at all these issues.
Finally, change just for change sake is futile. That is why New Canaan is fortunate to have a convincing alternative to look to. I’ve met with Craig Donovan on several occasions to discuss the issues facing the town. He is highly knowledgeable on these issues, and looks to common sense, achievable solutions to our challenges. He also has a demeanor which I believe will allow him to build consensus, and reach out to our community in a non-divisive, constructive manner.
For all those reason I encourage you to support Craig in the upcoming election.
Bob Ericson
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Dear Editor,
As a mayor myself, I know firsthand the challenges of being an elected leader of a historic but yet modern town. I was more fortunate than most leaders in that I had one of the top government management experts in the country, Dr. Craig Donovan, as one of my graduate school professors then, and as a friend and mentor now. He freely shared his thorough knowledge, skills, and experience with not only me, but all of his students, as he helped prepare us for serving as governmental leaders and managers. I believe it is more than just having the detailed know-how of doing this job that is important but how you treat people ultimately tells all.
Our best leaders have a personal core of caring and compassion. They are persons who value service over self. They leave their ego at the door and seek to develop rather than destroy, to help rather than hurt, to buildup rather than teardown. Dr. Craig Donovan has shown over and over, in ways large and small that he exemplifies these necessary and key characteristics. He leads and guides others quietly. He would rather listen than speak, rather give credit to others than take it for himself. He is a role model of the highest character and moral authority. He has the courage of his convictions, limitless imagination and brings an unbeatable determination to your town and the issues it faces.
I urge You, the voters of New Canaan, to vote for Craig Donovan for First Selectman on Tuesday November 5th.
Sincerely,
Collette J. Kennedy, Mayor
Keyport, New Jersey
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I write to urge all New Canaan voters to re-elect Kevin Moynihan as First Selectman. Two years ago, I didn’t vote for Mr. Moynihan, partly out of my concern that his having been a delegate for Trump in the 2016 Republican convention reflected his views and attitudes toward governing. The last two years of Mr. Moynihan’s splendid stewardship of his office have proven conclusively that I was wrong in my assessment. I will correct that error on November 5 by voting for Kevin Moynihan for First Selectman and Nick Williams for Selectman. Mr. Moynihan has demonstrated genuine, compassionate, intelligent, informed and progressive leadership. Mr. Moynihan, is a registered Republican as am I. But he is, more importantly, a committed New Canaan partisan, irrespective of his party affiliation. The party label is a convenience, not a characterization.
I have heard and read that some voters have sworn not to vote for any Republican because of their personal aversion to the current President and his demeanor in office. Such an attitude is utterly wrongheaded. National issues, national politics, indeed national parties are marginal to the important business of governing New Canaan. But even more significantly, making rote judgments concerning “all” of anything and then mechanically applying it to any individual represents an abdication of reasoned judgment in favor of prejudice.
The choice for me is therefore clear: stay with the proven, steady, and dedicated, long-time resident of New Canaan as our First Selectman. Join me by casting your vote for Kevin Moynihan.
Very truly yours,
Frederick L. Whitmer
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My wife and I moved to New Canaan from Darien in April 2010 and quickly adjusted to enjoying our new life in New Canaan. I was recruited to join the New Canaan DTC in the 2014 timeframe and became Chair of the DTC for 15 months in the 2016 timeframe. I have served as Vice Chair of the New Canaan DTC since stepping down as the DTC Chair. This DTC experience has helped me understand how our Town Government works and enabled me to get to know all the democratic candidates in this election.
Registered Voters in New Canaan on Sept 30, 2019
The following stats on registered voters in New Canaan as of 9 am on 9-30-19 was provided by Registrar John Amarilios:
- The total voters registered as Republican was 7,337 which is 43.5% of the total
- The total voters registered as Unaffiliated was 5,514 which is 32.7% of the total
- The total voters registered as Democratic was 3,786 which is 22.5% of the total.
- The total voters registered as Other was 212 which is 1.3% of the total
- The total voters registered as Non-Republican was 9,512 which is 56.4% of the total.
In the 2016 timeframe, over 50% of the registered voters were Republicans and they were able to elect the First Selectman and a Second Selectman on the Board of Selectmen.
The Board of Selectmen is the Executive Body for making the important governmental decisions for the town of New Canaan. With two republican members on the Board of Selectmen, republicans were able to control the key governmental decisions for New Canaan if they choose.
As the above stats show the registered Republicans now represent just 43.5% of the registered voters. Even with this 43.5% of registered voters the Republicans now have Kevin Moynihan as the First Selectmen and Nick Williams as another Selectman on the Board of Selectman and they can still dictate if they choose, the solutions to the important governmental decisions for the town of New Canaan. I hope that this imbalance currently on the Board of Selectmen will be changed in the upcoming election.
Endorsement of Craig Donovan for First Selectman
The Board of Selectmen is the Executive Body for making the important governmental decisions for the town of New Canaan. Reaching a consensus on these decisions requires thorough and transparent communications within the Board of Selectmen and with all the interested parties in New Canaan.
Craig Donovan brings what we need to actually make progress on the way we collaborate and increase transparency. Instead of saying, “No we can’t”, he’s an experienced leader who says, “let us figure out how we can.” Kit Devereaux has been is a leader in protecting our past and leading the way for our future and is committed to serve all constituents as a Selectman. A vote for Craig and Kit will be votes to improve collaboration and transparency as both are committed to representing all citizens of New Canaan.
Endorsement of Kit Devereaux for the New Canaan Board of Selectmen
In addition to currently serving on the Board of Selectman, Kit has served on the Board of Finance, Town Council, the Charter Revision Commission, the Parks & Recreation Commission and as chairman of the Town Council Lakeview Avenue Bridge Subcommittee. This Subcommittee made recommendations eight years ago that included the creation of an Audit Committee and that the town treasurer function become more than ceremonial.
Kit has both by the temperament and style and has a history of collaborating well across party lines in town government. She has demonstrated the ability to say ‘No’ without engendering ill will, effectively manage people and work outside of party politics.
If elected to the Board of Selectmen she will be committed to:
- Representing all the citizens of New Canaan
- Increasing collaboration and transparency to help make open town government a reality.
- Continuing to support the excellent New Canaan Public Schools.
- Continuing to protect the distinctive character and environment of New Canaan.
Kit came within 32 votes of winning the race for First Selectman in the last election. She is now running for a seat on the Board of Selectmen and if elected she will continue to contribute her time, management skills and expertise to the New Canaan community.
Endorsement of Colm Dobbyn for the New Canaan Town Council
Colm is a 26-year New Canaan resident and raised his family in town. He has been a contributor to the New Canaan Community for much of this time and served on the Inland Wetlands Commission since 2005. He is a practicing Corporate Legal Attorney with 35 years of experience and this expertise will be an asset on the Town Council.
If elected he will be committed to:
- Representing all citizens of New Canaan.
- Increasing collaboration and transparency to help make open town government a reality.
- Continuing to support the excellent New Canaan Public Schools.
- Protecting the distinctive character and environment of New Canaan.
- Seeking to make the Town Council legislative entity more responsive to the concerns of residents.
Colm made the decision to run for Town Council to increase his contributions to the New Canaan community.
Endorsement of Robin Bates-Mason for the New Canaan Town Council
Robin and her family have lived in New Canaan for 20 years. Her two sons, a senior and sophomore, are at NCHS. Her oldest son is currently a probie EMT with New Canaan Ambulance. Her husband, Carl Mason, serves on the Parks and Rec Commission.
Robin currently serves on the following community organizations:
- President and Co-Founder of Planet New Canaan,
- Publicity for New Canaan Beautification League,
- Publicity for League of Women Voters,
- BYO New Canaan,
- Family Fourth Committee.
Robin wants to start addressing sustainability as our town was caught off guard by the and increase of $197K for our recycling contract, that was not in the budget. We need to start working on solutions now to address these problems.
We need to continue to support our excellent schools as they not only bolster our real estate values but most important it gives our children a solid foundation for the future.
Robin wants to start making some tough decisions about the 56 buildings the town owns as much is underutilized and the buildings need to be maintained at considerable expense.
Endorsement of Mark Grzymski for the New Canaan Town Council
My wife and I moved to New Canaan from Darien in April 2010 and quickly adjusted to enjoying our new life in New Canaan. I was recruited to join the New Canaan DTC in the 2014 timeframe and became Chair of the DTC for 15 months in the 2016 timeframe. I have served as Vice Chair of the New Canaan DTC since stepping down from DTC Chair. This DTC experience has helped me understand how our Town Government works and enabled me to get to know the democratic candidates in this election.
Mark and his family moved to New Canaan twelve years ago and he considers it a privilege to belong to such a wonderful community. Committed to maintaining our excellent New Canaan public-school system and both daughters are attending our public schools.
Mark has 22 years’ experience in finance and is running for a seat on the New Canaan Town Council. Following are the issues he is committed to address:
- Representing all the citizens of New Canaan as Town Government should work for all.
- Increasing collaboration and transparency to help make open town government a reality.
- Begin modernizing the community with prudent investments in infrastructure.
- Committed to fiscal responsibility that puts the future ahead of short-term benefits.
Endorsement of Brendan Hayes for the New Canaan Board of Education
Brendan Hayes works hard to make sure New Canaan Public Schools are able to educate and challenge each child to their fullest capabilities. He leverages his financial expertise to ensure that the Board of Education budgets are transparent, clear and deliver the maximum return on our Town’s investment. He serves on the Board of Education Resource Committee and updated the board policy that charges non-board entities for using school property. In recognition of his leadership, Brendan was elected chairman of the Board of Education this year, where he ably stewarded the budget through the town approval process and built strong relationships with town officials.
Maintaining the excellent quality of our New Canaan public education comes naturally to Brendan. Brendan’s parents were teachers and then administrators. Brendan and Ainsley Hayes have lived in New Canaan for 11 years and their three children attend New Canaan’s schools.
Endorsement of Steve Eno for the New Canaan Board of Education
My wife and I moved to New Canaan from Darien in April 2010 and quickly adjusted to enjoying our new life in New Canaan. I was Chair of the DTC for 15 months in the 2016 timeframe and this experience gave me an understanding of how the New Canaan Town Government actually works and the opportunity to meet many of the participants.
Steve and his family moved to New Canaan nine years ago and they have been thrilled by the warmth of this town, the quality of the education for our children, and the citizens who have the best interest of our community at heart.
Steve is running for the Board of Education to ensure we make the best decisions that will continue our strong tradition of excellence in education. To accomplish this the Board of Education needs to continue to evolve and support better governance, tighter budget control and a higher level of community involvement.
Following are some of Steve’s ideas on how that evolution can and should continue:
- Governance: The Board of Education is tasked with overseeing and setting direction for school administration. Too often it seems the BOE defers to the administration instead of the other way around. The BOE needs to take a leadership role.
- Transparency: Involve stakeholders in major decisions such as changes to school start times.
- Budgeting: The Board of Selectman spends a considerable amount of time reviewing and approving discretionary expenditures in advance. The BOE needs to do the same to ensure our money is being spent wisely.
- Community involvement: The BOE should publish and respond to all petitions. Doing so will help ensure the community’s voice is recognized and incorporated into decisions.
I enthusiastically endorse all of the above Democratic Candidates.
Robert Smith
***
Editor:
Craig Donovan offers a professional, fair and inclusive approach to the position of First Selectman for New Canaan. His stated desire to embrace nonprofit value through collaborative relationships and participation is a refreshing perspective. It indicates a recognition that here in New Canaan we have a wealth of varied expertise and experience offered by volunteers who care about making New Canaan a better place to call home. In the very least it exhibits a smart use of available resources, and not a closed-door policy which leads to a disinterested citizenry.
Donovan’s call to define asset value by recognizing that our town-owned properties should be viewed as assets, not liabilities is a welcome approach. There should be a positive, clear plan toward management and in some cases promotion of those assets. Any process should be developed with input from the citizens of our town who paid, pay for and use these properties. Established plans should have clear follow through, not hidden, stalled or abandoned process while still allowing new input and relevant perspectives.
Donovan recognizes there should be a range of housing options for New Canaan, not just high-end development which obliterates “starter home”, downsizing and retirement options. Donovan recognizes the desire to preserve the unique character of our town but acknowledges the need to balance with 21st Century needs. We could not agree more. Progress and preservation are not exclusive goals, but combined success requires creativity, experience, and connections to preservation planning resources and expertise. Donovan has a knowledge and understanding of many of the processes by which preservation can work WITH progress for a more viable, positive and long-term result.
Donovan acknowledges that many of our Town-owned buildings are eligible for historic preservation funding, but some in our Town government have stated that New Canaan will never seek to access those funds. We find this irresponsible since we the tax payers paid into those funds and not accessing those funds results in either having to pay twice to maintain those buildings or buildings which are not maintained or are maintained inappropriately – all leading to increased repair expense.
New Canaan’s leaders should make full use of all our resources, whether they be our natural and built environment, or the knowledge and expertise of its citizens. Craig Donovan has the desire and ability to engage our citizens in the process of moving us forward, not stagnating in the status quo. He has an understanding of what it takes to keep New Canaan current and attractive to vibrant, positive growth while not abandoning those elements of our town which make New Canaan the unique place we love to call our home.
Sincerely,
Rose-Scott Long-Rothbart
Carl Rothbart
***
Vote for Kit Devereaux for Board of Selectmen. Kit is smart, dedicated, knowledgeable and passionate. Her many volunteer activities in New Canaan include being a member of the Board of Finance and the Town Council and she is currently serving us exceptionally well on the Board of Selectmen. She knows our town and she knows the issues. Kit has earned our vote. Beyond all that, we need a woman on the Board of Selectmen. We need Kit to provide much needed diversity to the Board. For all these reasons, I urge you to vote for Kit on November 5.
Beth Jones