Grr...I vote for the candidate, not the party. This time, Mark Boughton does not get my vote. Too much has gone wrong, been neglected, and corruption predominates, especially when representatives from City Hall call a landlord three times asking him to remove a Goncalves sign from his building's window.
Even some of the City Hall employees aren't necessarily fans of his. Worried about feeding their families and keeping a roof over their heads, they keep the silence
"Mr. Gaita has been threatening to file a lawsuit for several months. Now, days before the election, he filed it. It must be a way to get some notoriety before the election,'' Chesley said Wednesday.
This suit is entirely without merit," Knickerbocker said Wednesday. "I can't believe a candidate for the Board of Education would pull a political stunt like this that will cost the taxpayers money."
Democratic first selectman candidate Matt Knickerbocker came out ahead of his two opponents in fundraising for the Nov. 3 campaign, based on the most recent tallies.
Knickerbocker has raised $14,690 for his campaign, with the majority raised in the last month. That is more than both his opponents combined.
Incumbent First Selectman Robert Burke raised $4,550 this period, which added to his existing funds gives him an aggregate of $8,350 raised for his third campaign.
Republican challenger Larry Craybas reported $2,075 contributions this month, with an aggregate of $4,250 raised for his campaign.
Stabilizing Taxes(note to Derek, saying that the mayor has maintained the lowest credit rating is probably NOT a good thing...just sayin')
First off, any increase in taxes will only increase the burden on families and that approach in these tough economic times is simply unacceptable. Furthermore, I hope to continue to support the success of the Boughton administration by keeping some of the lowest property taxes in our state, maintaining the lowest credit and bond rating in our history and keeping a low debt service rate and strong fund balance.
Bethel First Selectmen, Bob Burke, declines an invitation to the News Times Candidate Forum.
Citing the News Times’ documented campaign of personal and political bias against his administration and candidacy, Mr. Burke has declined an invitation to participate in the News Times’ First Selectmen candidate forum. “I will not participate in a candidate forum being conducted by any organization, including the News Times, that has exhibited a clear and documented history of biased reporting and editorial character assassination against me. Their campaign to defame my integrity and discredit my public record disqualifies them from conducting an unbiased candidate forum and does not deserve my attendance ”, said Mr. Burke. “The people of Bethel know what I’ve done over the last 4 years in office and evidenced by my landslide victories in the last two elections, they do not hold the News Times endorsements in a credible light”, added Mr. Burke.
To reinforce his reason for not attending, Mr. Burke lists a number of recent examples:
- Despite repeated documented requests to delete slanderous blog postings, the News Times failed to monitor their sponsored blogs which enabled the posting of hundreds of slanderous and disgusting comments that has caused irreparable and permanent damage to Mr. Burke’s public & personal integrity. Their negligence in allowing systematic personal attacks against his character on their websites is unconscionable and litigious.
- The News Times has repeatedly delayed the publication of Burke support letters and openly favored the placement of opponent’s letters in higher circulation Sunday editions.
- The News Times has repeatedly misrepresented Mr. Burke’s comments in their articles.
- The News Times has never endorsed Bob Burke for First Selectmen and in fact, it is clearly evident that the candidate forum is just a formality in order to justify their planned endorsement of my democrat opponent, Mr. Matt Knickerbocker.
- The News Times has ignored Mr. Burke’s and his staff’s repeated requests to use specific submitted photos to accompany campaign articles and instead has resorted to publishing their own photos in a subliminal campaign to portray him poorly.
“As far as I’m concerned, The News Times is a shameful, despicable shell of its former self that isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on, and it’s editorial staff should be ashamed of itself”, Mr. Burke reiterated.
Showhomes are great sources of inspiration. Often a collaboration of many different designers, showhomes are great for showing the latest design trends and can give you ideas about new materials and furnishings, paint colours, and how to layout and decorate rooms. Some of my favourite showhomes are the Hampton Designer Showcase, the annual HGTV Dream Home giveaway, and the Kips Bay Showhouse. “However, in the interest of public discourse I proposed, as an alternative, a TV debate, which can be seen [on the Comcast government access channel] anytime they want to show it.”
This year on Nov. 3 in addition to selecting who is going to serve the great city of Danbury as mayor I also have the opportunity to decide who is going to represent me on the Common Council. As a resident of the First Ward I will have an easy decision as to who should be elected when I go to Danbury High School and cast my ballot.
The choice is between an individual who is already working hard as my current councilman or someone who has never held an elected office in Danbury. My choice is the obvious one, Shay Nagersheth.
Shay has been working diligently over the last few years both as a ward representative as well as a city-wide representative on the Common Council. He has dedicated himself to the needs of his constituents. He fought hard to improve a drainage issue on King Street, has advocated for child safety zones, worked to keep Danbury services available, all while striving to control taxes and keep Danbury an affordable place to live. He has not only proved himself on the council but also has worked diligently trying to balance out the needs of the city while protecting environmental concerns as chairman as the Environmental Impact Committee.
[...]
It is for this reason that I ask you to join with me in voting for Shay Nagarsheth as well as his running mate, Phil Colla as First Ward Councilmen.
Robert Melillo
DANBURY
POINT 1: Robert Melillo is an active member of the Danbury Republican Town Committee (as well as a member of the Zoning Commission, but that's really not relevant to this post).Letters to the Editor (203) 731-3344 letters@newstimes.com
This year on Nov. 3 in addition to selecting who is going to serve the great city of Danbury as mayor I also have the opportunity to decide who is going to represent me on the Common Council. As a resident of the First Ward I will have an easy decision as to who should be elected when I go to Danbury High School and cast my ballot...
Democratic first selectman candidate Matt Knickerbocker came out ahead of his two opponents in fundraising for the Nov. 3 campaign, based on the most recent tallies.
Knickerbocker has raised $14,690 for his campaign, with the majority raised in the last month. That is more than both his opponents combined.
Incumbent First Selectman Robert Burke raised $4,550 this period, which added to his existing funds gives him an aggregate of $8,350 raised for his third campaign.
Republican challenger Larry Craybas reported $2,075 contributions this month, with an aggregate of $4,250 raised for his campaign.
"It's already late in the (election) cycle and we do have a full schedule of events," he said. "I also have a responsibility to run the city of Danbury."
In the Oct. 20 article "Residents hold protest in front of City Hall," reporter Dirk Perrefort states "Boughton is the only incumbent in the state to reject a League debate in the last 15 years, a claim league officials couldn't verify."
Verification came in the form of my conversation last week with Jean Rabinow of the Connecticut League of Women Voters.
Sept. 10 was the date that Mayor Boughton was invited by the League to debate. He said he never received it, so a second invitation was sent on Sept. 24.
In the article, the mayor excuses himself from debating by referring to the lateness of the follow-up invitation.
Past excuses from the mayor include: his first responsibility is to run the City of Danbury. I respect that comment, only on the proposed evenings of the debate, Oct. 20 and 22, he was scheduled to enjoying dinners at Barden Corporation and Ability Beyond Disability. Not to diminish their importance, I still think his first allegiance should be to the larger voter population.
This action shows great disrespect to the League, the voters of Danbury, and his Democratic challenger Gary Goncalves. The League is about education in a nonpartisan, accessible and open forum with a live audience and it's free. Not during a $45 per plate luncheon, not on cable -- and not in a Republican-oriented venue.
Boy, they really are getting desperate...
Today in a letter to the editor to the NewsTimes, one of my opponents volunteers alleges that I was attending two dinners (one for Barden, and one for Ability Beyond Disability) on the nights for potential League of Women Voter debates.
Aside from dragging two terrific institutions into politics, one a major employer (Barden) in Danbury, and the other an outstanding service organization that does tremendous work with the disabled (Ability Beyond Disability), the author of the letter is just...wrong.
So let me set the record straight.
Tuesday evening I attended an employee recognition night for Barden Corporation (congratulations everybody) two awards (one posthumously) were given by me for 50 years of service to Barden. I did not stay for the dinner. This event was booked long before any campaign events except the Chamber of Commerce debate which was scheduled at the beginning of the fall.
Thursday evening I am scheduled to attend an auction at WCSU to feed people less fortunate than us and then I am playing in a wheel chair basketball game for Ability Beyond Disability at Danbury High School. Stop by and check it out, it is a major fundraiser for the organization.. No dinner in sight.
Just pathetic..
"It's already late in the (election) cycle and we do have a full schedule of events," he said. "I also have a responsibility to run the city of Danbury."
Hmm, I just noticed that most of my scoops seem to be about Sarah Richardson. Yes, I am one of her biggest fans, but if this keeps going on, it might border on 'stalker-ish' behaviour, don't you think? 
The Danbury Area LWV will sponsor a debate for Common Council candidates running for the seven at-large positions on Danbury ’s Common Council. The debate will take place on Tuesday, October 27th at 7:00 pm at the Ives Concert Hall on the midtown campus of Western Connecticut State University. The debate is open to the public and all fourteen candidates have been invited to participate.
“There are six incumbents seeking re-election to the Council at large”, stated LWV President Carol R. Elder, “and eight other candidates, some first-time office seekers, contending for the privilege of representing Danbury ’s 75,000 residents.”
Danbury ’s 21 member Common Council is made up of two Council members elected from each of the city’s seven wards plus seven Council members elected at large to represent all city residents, regardless of the ward they live in.
“This combination of having some local representatives to address neighborhood issues, and some at large representatives, to address more universal issues, gives our legislative body the chance to really reflect the diversity in our community,” stated Elder.
“Many Danbury residents don’t realize that the at large Council Members on the Common Council represent them as well, “she concluded.
This debate will give voters an opportunity to hear these candidates respond to six predetermined questions and make a closing statement. The debate will also be taped by John Neumuller for Danbury Live and broadcast on Comcast Channel 23.
