Dear Friends,

You may be asked to sign a petition in the next few days regarding whether or not Simsbury should hold a “special election” in order to fill a vacancy on our Board of Selectmen (BOS).  Before you decide whether to sign it, I want to give you the facts about the situation.  My intent is to give you truthful information, without political spin or partisan politics, so that you can make an informed, independent decision.

First, let me say that I absolutely believe in the democratic process and agree that good government should be open and transparent.

In 2007 and 2009, Simsbury residents elected a BOS made up of 3 Democrats and 3 Republicans, a “split board.”  Voters said loud and clear, not once, but twice, that they were interested in bipartisanship and folks working together.

Now, in September 2010, there is a vacancy on the BOS, created by the resignation of a Republican Selectman.  The Simsbury Charter, which is basically the constitution for our Town, establishing the structure of our government and the manner in which it operates, provides that vacancies on boards or commissions, INCLUDING the BOS, are to be “filled by the appointment of a member of the same political party as the person vacating the office in the event said person was affiliated with a political party.” And, in fact, this is how it has always been done. Vacancies for the BOS, and all boards and commissions have been filled by appointment to fill the remaining time left on the term.  Simsbury’s Charter does not provide for a special election to fill a vacancy.

Last week, the Simsbury Democratic Town Committee, and the Simsbury Democratic First Selectman each stated publicly that they were going to petition for a special election to fill the vacancy, in order to seek to gain a 4-2 majority on the BOS.  They argued a special election is part of the “democratic process.”

Under a CT statute, yes, a citizen has a right to petition for a special election.  But, this is not a citizen bringing this forward, it is a political party doing so.  As far as I know, this unusual step has never been done in Simsbury.  Usually, the political parties follow the Charter.

In addition, you should know that a special election would not be held until winter 2011, and cost about $12,000 of taxpayer dollars.  The seat would then be up for regular election in November 2011, 8 months later.  Thus, we would have two elections for the same seat, in the same year.

So, why does one political party want to change the established process?  Unfortunately, it is all too simple, and it is not at all about the “democratic process.“   It is about power and control, and an attempt to shift the balance of power on the BOS, and achieve sole control over the policies governing our Town.

This is the kind of behavior that we have come to expect in Washington, D.C., or Hartford, CT, but not in Simsbury. I think we would all agree that this kind of local politics is bad for small towns like ours where we are first and foremost, neighbors, friends, teachers, and coaches to our children, regardless of our political affiliation.

Please make your own decisions about the subject.  I just wanted to make sure you understood the background.  Please forward this to other residents that may be interested.

Be Well,

MOIRA

As far as false statements made against me, let me very clear and set the record straight.

I have NEVER participated in a “special election.”  In fact, NO ONE in Simsbury has ever participated in a “special election.” Because, there has never been a special election in Simsbury in its 300 year history.

The facts:

First, in 2005, I was the republican nominee to run for the BOS.  Another R who did not get the nomination CHALLENGED ME, and according to the SRTC By-laws a “caucus” was held that summer at HJMS.  I won the caucus and went on to run for election, and win the general election that November.   I should note that the expense of the caucus was paid for by the Simsbury Republicans, there was no Town cost as it was not an election.  It was a caucus of republicans, legally required to be held.

Second,In 2008, I won enough R delegate votes at 8th district senatorial convention, thus a primary was held that August between myself and Kevin Witkos for the republican nomination.  Again, this was NOT a special election.  It was a primary, held as part of the REGULARLY SCHEDULED STATE ELECTIONS for an OPEN state senate seat that fall.  State senate elections occur every two years.  And, this primarly allowed all R’s living in the 8th District the opportunity to come out and vote for a R nominee.  Sixty towns held primaries on that day, Republican and Democrat.

Third, the Democratic Chairman, said I wrote an email “denouncing residents right to vote.”  Again, this is NOT TRUE.  I wrote an email to Simsbury Residents that explained the facts of this situation, so that they can make up their own minds about whether to sign a petition forcing a special election.  For those that wish to read the email,  I have posted it as a blog entry.  You can read it for yourself.

I appreciate you taking the time to read the blog.

Be Well,

moira

You may be asked to sign a petition in the next few days regarding whether or not Simsbury should hold a “special election” in order to fill a vacancy on our Board of Selectmen (BOS).  Before you decide whether to sign it, I want to give you the facts about the situation.  My intent is to give you truthful information, without political spin or partisan politics, so that you can make an informed, independent decision.

First, let me say that I absolutely believe in the democratic process and agree that good government should be open and transparent.

In 2007 and 2009, Simsbury residents elected a BOS made up of 3 Democrats and 3 Republicans, a “split board.”  Voters said loud and clear, not once, but twice, that they were interested in bipartisanship and folks working together.

Now, in September 2010, there is a vacancy on the BOS, created by the resignation of a Republican Selectman.  The Simsbury Charter, which is basically the constitution for our Town, establishing the structure of our government and the manner in which it operates, provides that vacancies on boards or commissions, INCLUDING the BOS, are to be “filled by the appointment of a member of the same political party as the person vacating the office in the event said person was affiliated with a political party.” And, in fact, this is how it has always been done. Vacancies for the BOS, and all boards and commissions have been filled by appointment to fill the remaining time left on the term.  Simsbury’s Charter does not provide for a special election to fill a vacancy.

Last week, the Simsbury Democratic Town Committee, and the Simsbury Democratic First Selectman each stated publicly that they were going to petition for a special election to fill the vacancy, in order to seek to gain a 4-2 majority on the BOS.  They argued a special election is part of the “democratic process.”

Under a CT statute, yes, a citizen has a right to petition for a special election.  But, this is not a citizen bringing this forward, it is a political party orchestrating this.  As far as I know, this unusual step has never been done in Simsbury.  Usually, the political parties follow the Charter. In fact, the last three vacancies on the BOS have been filled by appointment.

In addition, you should know that a special election would not be held until winter 2011, and cost about $12,000 of taxpayer dollars.  The seat would then be up for regular election in November 2011, 8 months later.  Thus, we would have two elections for the same seat, in the same year.

So, why does one political party want to change the established process?  Unfortunately, it is all too simple, and it is not at all about the “democratic process.“   It is about power and control, and an attempt to shift the balance of power on the BOS, and achieve sole control over the policies governing our Town.

This is the kind of behavior that we have come to expect in Washington, D.C., or Hartford, CT, but not in Simsbury. I think we would all agree that this kind of local politics is bad for small towns like ours where we are first and foremost, neighbors, friends, teachers, and coaches to our children, regardless of our political affiliation.

Please make your own decisions about the subject.  I just wanted to make sure you understood the background.  Please forward this to other residents that may be interested.

Be Well,

MOIRA

I hope that you all are having a restful summer, especially now that the primaries are over!  No more robocalls or political literature.  This summer’s primary season is what prompted me thinking about starting up my blog again.  I decided that I would re-start it as a way to communicate accurate, factual information, free of political spin, to Simsbury residents and voters.  Much like I did during the 2009 local election.

This summer, I grew frustrated with how the primary candidates spoke in “soundbites,” that were designed to make us believe something about them or their opponent.  Now, soundbites in and of themselves are not the problem.  The problem is that they are presented to us voters out of context, so that technically something they say might be kind of accurate, but not really if we knew the “whole history.”  Basically, the candidates take advantage of the fact that we are often so busy that we do not have the time to do in-depth “candidate research.”  In addition, candidate’s high priced consultants know that busy voters frequently form their entire opinion about a candidate based on tv commercials, ads, and  direct mail pieces.

So, my goal is to provide a forum that gives you information about our Town that is “nothing but the facts.”  If you want even more information about state level politics, visit either  the Courant’s Kevin Rennie at www.Dailyructions.com or Dennis House’s blog www.Wfsb.com/hartfordite.  These guys do a great job.

Look for more to come from this blog.

Enjoy the last weeks of summer vacation (before the robo calls start again).

Be well,

Moira Wertheimer

I plan to keep this blog up and running, so please check back often, to keep informed about what is going on.  As I did during the election, I pledge to provide you with facts and information that are not spun in any particular way, or with any partisan slant.

thank you again,

Moira