Scary...

[Bustopher Jones]

While both parties in Wallingford have put forth more candidates than can be elected, it is scary that there is such a dearth of talent amongst the candidates. It is really difficult to come up with 9 candidates between the two parties that I feel deserve support. With that said, I'm curious who each of us is supporting. These are the names I came up with:

Democrats
Bob Gross
Don Harwood
John Sullivan
Geno Zandri

Republicans
Vincent Cervoni
Jerry Farrell
Craig Fishbein
John LeTourneau

Yep, I can only come up with 8. :( Too bad Jason Zandri isn't running again; then I would have my 9th. (Maybe I'll write him in anyway...)

What is YOUR ideal ticket?

[gunderstone]

I am humbled to have made the type of impression with you that you'd consider me a write in.

The only things that kept me from formally running this time through was my full time job (my responsibilities increased and I took on some additional side work) and the birth of my 4th child (Alex, last month).

I'll have to see what the next two years bring but I will continue to do what I can and make an effort to stay involved from the sidelines.

Thank you again.

Jason Zandri

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

my voting is anyone who not on the council or boe gets my vote....i want a complete turnover of people on both boards

[Bustopher Jones]

Well, at least now I know who gunderstone is...:o

[gunderstone]

Aw heck... that is actually really easy...

Just BING / Google "gunderstone"

[jessereynolds]

I'd ask that you consider me- or at least I would like to ask why you would not consider me?

Feel free to email me at: Reynolds4Council@gmail.com

Thanks,
Jesse Reynolds


While both parties in Wallingford have put forth more candidates than can be elected, it is scary that there is such a dearth of talent amongst the candidates. It is really difficult to come up with 9 candidates between the two parties that I feel deserve support. With that said, I'm curious who each of us is supporting. These are the names I came up with:

Democrats
Bob Gross
Don Harwood
John Sullivan
Geno Zandri

Republicans
Vincent Cervoni
Jerry Farrell
Craig Fishbein
John LeTourneau

Yep, I can only come up with 8. :( Too bad Jason Zandri isn't running again; then I would have my 9th. (Maybe I'll write him in anyway...)

What is YOUR ideal ticket?

[oldnickel]

Jesse, I most certainly will vote for you.

[Wallyworldite]

I am only voting for four. While you CAN vote for nine, it is "up to nine". With all due respect, I don't feel that any of the others deserve my vote.

These are my picks:

Democrats
Jesse Reynolds
John Sullivan

Republicans
Vincent Cervoni
Craig Fishbein

[Bustopher Jones]

I'd ask that you consider me- or at least I would like to ask why you would not consider me?

Thanks,
Jesse Reynolds
It was not my intent to offend you. In reviewing your bio (http://www.wallingforddemocrats.org/Wallingford_Democratic_Town_Council/2009_Candidates.html) I do not see a track record in municipal politics (as I do with other candidates), and thus don't have a basis to judge. Given that Jason is not running, you are not an incumbent, and you are involved enough to participate in this forum, you can have my 9th vote.

And Wallyworldite, the fact that we agree on 3 of 4 on the first pass, and that you would support Reynolds, clinches the deal. :)

[jessereynolds]

No offense taken at all- I see no harm in just flat out asking.

Thanks for your newly acquired support Bustopher- I should thank Jason for not running.:o

My involvement in municipal politics has been on the Democratic Town Committee for the last 2 years. That is actually an elected position in my district and I've not missed a vote on a recommendation for appointment in that 2 year period. I missed one meeting due to illness.

I also ran in 2007 for Council. I worked very hard on and was heavily involved with the Dem ticket's successful campaign. Prior to changing careers, I was a regular at Town Council meetings for quite a bit of time too.

In addition, I've been on the the WPL board of managers for the last year- which is an appointed position by the library board and appears on the Wallingford Town website. Not to mention that the library is funded in large part by the town- and I am on the finance committee.

More importantly, I think that my professional experience and background makes me an ideal candidate to serve as 1 of 9 Councilors that should jointly make decisions that are best for Wallingford.

Just the same- THANK YOU.

[John J. Sullivan]

Thank you to those that are supporting me here in the MyRecordjournal Forum section. I pop in from time to time to see what's on your mind. If any of you have any questions on my candidacy, please feel free to drop me a line at Sullivan4council@snet.net

Best to you all and please exercise your American Right to Vote on Election Day, November 3rd.

John J. Sullivan

[flatrat]

13 candidates for town council. 12 white males, one woman, no minorities.

Welcome to Wallingford. Hotbed of diversity.

[Bustopher Jones]

13 candidates for town council. 12 white males, one woman, no minorities (highlighting mine).

Welcome to Wallingford. Hotbed of diversity.
EXCELLENT point, and one that was brought up to the Democratic Town Committee more than once in the days when I was a member. Neither party has made any substantive effort to recruit minorities to actively participate in the political process. The Dems did have one minority on the Town Committee, an official with the regional NAACP, but never capitalized on the opportunity.

[Wallyworldite]

EXCELLENT point, and one that was brought up to the Democratic Town Committee more than once in the days when I was a member. Neither party has made any substantive effort to recruit minorities to actively participate in the political process. The Dems did have one minority on the Town Committee, an official with the regional NAACP, but never capitalized on the opportunity.

I too would very much like to see more female candidates. On the issue of minority candidates, I am not a proponent of affirmative action and therefore I do not vote for a minority just because they are a minority, but rather I vote for whom I believe to be the best candidate.

[jessereynolds]

I agree, I would love to see more diversity in the candidates that run. Regardless of my candidacy; as a representative of the DTC, I would also like to see more diversity in those seeking office.

I can honestly say that it is an open process and despite there being 9 spots on the ballot, the Democrats (DTC) fielded 7 Council candidates and Geno petitioned on (8 total).

I think that more diversity (and more interested candidates) would bring much more to the discussion of local issues. With that said though, we are given such a limited forum for us to discuss anything of substance once nominated. Money seems to be the only way to convey a message and even that message is more about getting one's name out there.

Further, I was unable to attend the CofC Candidate Forum at the WLFD Senior Center and therefore I do not even have a video on the RJ site.

Thanks,

Jesse Reynolds

[Wallyworldite]

I just remembered that the Republicans had TWO female candidates for council last time: Rosemary Rascati (who won a seat) and Dawn Sarro (who if I remember correctly lost to Mike Spiteri by 19 votes). I can't remember the last time that the Democrats had a female candidate. If you recall, even Lucille had to run as an independent candidate for mayor.

[Bustopher Jones]

A governing body is most effective if it reflects the ethnic make-up of its constituency. This is not an issue of "affirmative action"; it is, rather, about engaging the members of the minority community in the political process by actively seeking and soliciting their involvement in the grass roots level, starting with the Town Committees. Nor is it about an "open process"; people will not participate in a process if they do not feel that the "process" cares about the constituency involved. Minorities need to become involved in local politics because they are directly affected by the decisions being made on the local level; yet, the perspectives and values unique to a particular ethnic group are often unfamiliar to, or misunderstood by, white politicans who cannot connect with these perspectives and values. We bemoan the poor voter turnout rates in our municipal elections. But we fail to recognize that, without participation of minority constituencies in grass roots politics, and without minority candidates with whom constituencies can identify, the minority voter is likely to feel disenfranchised from the entire process.

And Wallyworldite, in your haste to be self-serving, you conveniently overlook Iris Papale, who was a fixture as a member of the Democratic Council ticket for decades until she decided to retire from elective politics in 2008 and accepted an appointment to the Board of Ethics. Nor has Wallingford been hesitant to elect women to the Town Council; at one point, one-third of the Council (Noma Beaumont, Marie Bergamini, and Iris Papale) were females. (To give the Republicans their due, they were in fact the first party in Wallingford to run a woman for Mayor.) However, no African-American or Hispanic of either party has ever been represented on the Council (or any other elective or appointive office, for that matter). (FYI, Peter Gouveia was Portugese, not Hispanic.)

[jessereynolds]

Oh, I agree Bustapher- I did not mean to insinuate that we as a party did all that could be done to solicit candidates. As evident by the chromosomes and complexion of our 8- we are hardly representative of the electorate. There could always be more to be done- but the question becomes by whom, how and when?

The system itself seems to function best for the small few involved when there are few others interested. It is why I ran in 2007 (from a DTC ad in the paper) and it is why I got on the Town Committee and why I chose to run again. In fact, I took a portion of my closing statement at the candidate forums last Thursday to address the need for more involvement in government.

Clearly more could be done at the grassroots level, but from my point of view- any 'outside' individual wishing to seek office would be welcome in my eyes (and many others on the DTC I am certain). That was the only point that I was making.

Hope that I still have your vote.

Thanks,
Jesse

[Wallyworldite]

And Wallyworldite, in your haste to be self-serving, you conveniently overlook Iris Papale, who was a fixture as a member of the Democratic Council ticket for decades until she decided to retire from elective politics in 2008 and accepted an appointment to the Board of Ethics.

Yes, you are right. I forgot. Quite frankly I never saw Iris as a Democrat. She truly reaches across party lines. BTW, if the Dems get their way with Charter Revision even she will not be able to sit on the Board of Ethics as Brodinsky crafted the proposed rules to say that if you have donated any money to any member of the appointing authority (that would be a successful candidate for mayor or council) then you cannot be appointed to the Commission. This was one of his specific requests that he himself sent to the Charter Revision Commission for their consideration (and of course it passed along party lines).

Just another reason to VOTE NO on the vengeful Charter Revision questions.

[Bustopher Jones]

Jesse -

In September 2003, the Democratic Town Committee adopted its "Guiding Principles". Two of those principles are as follows:

We believe that diversity gives our town strength, and that all Americans reap benefits when we, as a community, meet our challenges together.

We believe in the dignity of the individual and equality of all our citizens; further, we believe in bridging our differences, not segregating and demeaning one another because of those differences.

Methinks it is time for the Democratic Party in Wallingford to live up to those "Guiding Principles".

Enough said...

For reference, the following is the full text of the Guiding Principles:

We believe that government should be judged by how well it meets its legitimate objectives, and that good government is that which most effectively secures the rights of the people and the fruits of their labor, promotes their happiness, and does their will.

We believe that the best government is an efficient government based not on systems or bureaucracies, but on people, ideals and values.

We believe in open government, fully accessible to the public.

We believe that diversity gives our town strength, and that all Americans reap benefits when we, as a community, meet our challenges together.

We believe in the dignity of the individual and equality of all our citizens; further, we believe in bridging our differences, not segregating and demeaning one another because of those differences.

We believe in a society that strengthens our families and protects our children.

We believe in a society that values community and protects our citizens from crime.

We believe that taxation should be fair and based upon the ability of the taxpayer to pay.

We believe in a strong, equitable public education system.

We believe in a society that respects our elders, who deserve the right to retire with the resources they need, and have earned, to support themselves in their golden years.

We believe in caring for the needy, the sick, the disabled, the hungry and homeless, and the unemployed.

We believe in conserving our natural resources and protecting our environment.

And we believe in pursuing these ideals with honesty and integrity, with respect for the American freedoms that we are proud to call our own.

[jessereynolds]

Bustapher-

As a member since early 2008- I've not seen this. However, I will make you a deal. After this election, if I am on the DTC for another 2 year term- I will bring this to light and act upon it.

Plus- when I speak of the 'system'- I am not being party specific. And despite the composition of our Council candidates- our BOE candidates are actually more diverse.

Whether it is overtly apparent or not, we've been trying for the last 2 years to be more involved- there's always more to be done. Our goal after this election is to continue moving forward.

Thanks for the info- I'll put it to good use.

Thanks,
Jesse

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

EXCELLENT point, and one that was brought up to the Democratic Town Committee more than once in the days when I was a member. Neither party has made any substantive effort to recruit minorities to actively participate in the political process. The Dems did have one minority on the Town Committee, an official with the regional NAACP, but never capitalized on the opportunity.

wallingford has what 44,000 people with 40,000 being white.... from the figures i have seen...so its not surprissing that their are no minorities trying to run.....just a good old boy (and girl) club....don;t see that changing anytime soon......but we can vote out all whom are in office now and start new.......

[Bustopher Jones]

Based on the 2000 census, of the 43,026 residents, 94.8% of Wallingford's population was white, and the balance were either minorities or mixed race. Keep in mind, however, that these data are 9 years old and outdated, and that Wallingford has seen an influx of minority persons (primarily Hispanic/Latino) who have become more affluent and migrated from surrounding urban centers; hence, the 2010 census will likely show a higher minority percentage.

Incidentally, while the Democrats and Republicans battle it out, 56.2% of the registered voter population is unaffiliated; so apparently neither party has made enough of a favorable impression in our town to capture the hearts and minds of the majority of voters.

[gunderstone]

Wilbert L. Robinson (http://bit.ly/36j0dA) is running for Board of Education and he is a minority.

Just wanted to add that in there.

I am certain both parties tried to solicit women and minorities and I would remind you to take a look at who represents us in the 85th, 90th and 103rd districts. (http://bit.ly/42PoZ3)

Again, I realize this is not part of the conversation but I wanted to make the point that the "good old boy" network isn't as tightly wrapped as some here suggest it is.

[jessereynolds]

also a good point.

[TRUTHANDTOOTH]

WALLYWORLDITE, your post yesterday at 3:43 was not quite right. The restrictions on Ethics Board members was passed unanimously. Where do you get your information from? The PAC?