A Message from the Chairman
Welcome
to the Easton Democratic Town Committee website! We hope you'll visit often,
as we update you on important issues facing our community.
It is an exciting time to be a Democrat. President Obama’s historic
election has set the stage for positive change on a national level: government
that is fair, pro-active, and unafraid to tackle the challenges Americans
face in these tough economic times. Locally, Easton’s Democratic leaders
continue to feel privileged to represent your interests, working hard to achieve
the goals that matter to our whole community: good schools, manageable taxes,
better town planning and services.
Full Story >>
Your Vote Makes a Difference!
Municipal
Election
Tuesday, November 3rd, 6am–8pm,
Staples School
Do What's Right for Easton!
Elect Leaders Who Share Your Values
Chris Neubert, First Selectman
Bob Lessler, Selectman
Give Easton a Full-Service Town Clerk's Office
Mike Kivell, Town Clerk
Elect THREE Democrats to Balance the Board of Finance
Easton Board of Finance
Tom Partridge (2-year term)
Elise Broach (6-year term)
Art Laske (6-year term)
Improve Our High School with Fresh Perspectives
Region 9 Board of Education
Margot Abrams
Ryan Walker
Vote for the Democratic Team!
Library Board
Elaine Spicer
Board of Assessment Appeals
Judy Weinstein
Constables
Gloria Bindelglass
Dick Greiser
David Katz
Irv Silverman
Thank you for your support!
Municipal
Election
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
Don't forget to vote!
Is
Easton headed in the right direction? Since 2000, under Republican leadership,
property taxes have increased an average of 5% per year. Meanwhile, our school
system is suffering. We are the only town in our DRG (District Reference Group
A) that has a LOWER budget for K-8 education this year than last, which meant
the loss of funding for extracurricular programs, the remedial learning lab
at Keller, needed computers, library books, and support staff. Easton is the
8th wealthiest town in Connecticut, but ranks 63rd in per pupil spending.
Property values are in serious decline. Of all towns in Fairfield County,
Easton showed the biggest decrease in median home prices, which were down
40% in the last year. If you’re worried about taxes, education, and
property values, vote for the Neubert/Lessler team! They’ll do what’s
right for Easton. For more information on our highly-qualified slate of Democratic
candidates, visit Candidates. To find out more
about the Easton Democratic Party Platform in this important election year,
visit Platform.
Meet-the-Candidates
Cocktail Party
First
Selectman candidate Chris Neubert, with wife Sandy and Connecticut Attorney
General Richard Blumenthal, were joined by over 90 supporters at the Neuberts'
home for a "Meet the Candidates" cocktail party on Friday, October
16, 2009.
A
Message from First Selectman Candidate Chris Neubert
Dear Easton Neighbors:
Since I moved to Easton in 2003, my taxes have risen an average
of 5% per year, even though inflation has increased at 3% per year. Meanwhile,
my house value has declined and the school system shows increasing signs of
strain. I believe that Easton is now at a tipping point, where only thoughtful
action and effective leadership will make a meaningful difference for Easton's
future.
As First Selectman, I will work diligently to protect and enhance what makes
Easton special to all of us. I will make sure that the "right things
get done right," versus merely being discussed. I will not stand by in
silence while the Board of Finance proposes a budget that cuts to the bone
of our school system and undermines essential town services. Maintaining and
improving Easton's quality of education and community services protects our
property values, and it's simply the right thing to do for all our residents.
Easton is the 8th wealthiest town in Connecticut, but 63rd in spending
per pupil. The town budget goes up, our taxes go up, but Easton's investment
in the school system--our only real industry and the foundation of our
property values--is smack in the middle of the 169 towns in Connecticut.
We spend less than Milford or East Hartford. This makes no sense to me...
does it to you?
I have the education, experience, and skills to lead Easton during these challenging
economic times. My resume: 30 years' of business experience in financial planning,
fiscal management and investment management; Certified Financial Planner since
1982; and licensed attorney with proven communication, consensus-building,
and interpersonal skills.
Most importantly, as your First Selectman, I will take a position on important
town issues and communicate it clearly. Easton needs a First Selectman who
listens, understands YOUR priorities, and fights for YOUR values. From my
perspective, the citizens of Easton are the town's only shareholders and its
best customers. If you are concerned about the direction Easton is headed
in, please vote for me on November 3rd.
Sincerely,
Chris Neubert
2009
Neary Award Winner:
Marvin Gelfand
The
Easton Democratic Town Committee is pleased to announce the recipient of this
year’s John and Phyllis Neary Award: Marvin Gelfand of Easton. The award
was presented to Mr. Gelfand at an award dinner on Friday, May 1st at Roberto’s
Restaurant, 505 Main Street in Monroe, attended by a crowd of 130, including
State Comptroller Nancy Wyman and Democratic State Central Committee members
Susan Barrett and Liam Burke; gubernatorial candidate Jim Amann; Trumbull
First Selectman Ray Baldwin, Monroe First Selectman Tom Buzi, and Easton’s
own First Selectman Tom Herrmann.
Full Story >>
Recent
News
DTC Competes in ELF Trivia Bee
Held
May 14th, the Easton DTC's Vote Row B team, consisting of David Smith, Steve
Carlson, and Dan Underberger, outperformed their Republican counterparts by
50%! (The Democrats answered 6 out of 8 questions correctly, compared to the
Republicans' 4.)
DTC Community Service
The
Easton Democratic Town Committee rolled up their sleeves and contributed to
the clean-up efforts on a recent Habitat for Humanity acquisition on Peace
Street in Stratford. In addition to the work day, Easton Democrats raised
$3,000 in support of Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County’s
mission to provide decent, safe, and affordable housing to people in need.
The Obama Victory
The
New York Times called it “The Year of Living on the Edge of Our Seats.”
It was a presidential campaign like no other in history, and it caught the
attention of every demographic, resulting in breathtakingly high turnout among
previously disenchanted voters—blacks, Hispanics, the urban poor, the
young—and a victory made all the sweeter by its scope and diversity.
By the time the polls closed on the night of November 4th, Barack Obama had
received the largest share of the popular vote (52%) of any Democratic nominee
in 44 years.
Throughout the campaign, pundits spoke of “the Bradley effect”—whereby
black candidates draw significantly fewer votes than the polls have predicted,
presumably because of latent racism. Maybe in the years to come, they will
speak of “the Obama effect”—whereby an unlikely candidate
wins an election against all odds by virtue of his competence, intelligence,
vision, and hard work. What can truly be said of the Obama victory is that
he earned it... and after the disappointments and abuses of the past eight
years, America deserved it.
Inaugural Gala
Local
Democrats and Unaffiliateds gathered to celebrate Obama’s Victory at
an Inaugural Gala in Norwalk on January 20, 2009. Top: DTC Chairman Ron Kowalski,
Elise Broach, Sue Smith, and Renn and Janet Gordon. Bottom: Amy McKeon, Sue
Smith, the new President, and Elise Broach.
The Climate Change Project
DTC Chairman Ron Kowalski with Nobel laureate and former Vice President Al Gore at a Climate Change training seminar in Nashville, Tennessee in January ’07, where Kowalski was selected as a national presenter for The Climate Change Project. He currently speaks throughout the state on the consequences of global warming and the many steps Americans can take, individually and in the international community, to safeguard the health of the planet. For more information or to schedule a presentation for your business or organization, call Ron Kowalski at (203) 615-3979.
Easton Needs You
Please consider volunteering your time and talents to serve the town. Local boards and commissions depend on the expertise of Easton's citizens for tasks as varied as town planning, decisions about educational spending, and oversight of building projects like the new animal shelter. For a full list of boards and commissions, click on Dem Officials in the sidebar, or contact Ron Kowalski at (203) 615-3979 to discuss openings.
Back to top
© 2002 - 2005 Easton Democrats. Paid for by the Easton Democratic Town Committee, Marvin Gelfand, Treasurer
Learn more before you vote - Tune in to Channel
79 to see the candidates debate!
PTA Candidates' Forum, held 10/26
Board of Finance and Region 9 Board of Education candidates
Easton
Exchange Club/Easton Lions Club Debate, held 10/27
Board
of Selectmen candidates
Municipal
Election
Tuesday, November 3rd
Samuel Staples School
Polls open from 6:00am - 8:00pm
Please support our excellent team of Democratic candidates who will do what's
right for Easton!
Absentee
Ballots now available from the Town Clerk's Office
M-F, 8:30am - 3:30pm
Extra Hours:
Friday, 10/30, 6-8pm
Saturday, 10/31, 8-11am
Monday, 11/2, 6-8pm
Don't miss your chance to vote!
For further information, see Voting Info.
Through fair, ethical government that is decisive, responsive, and inclusive,
the Easton Democrats will strive to serve the needs of all town residents,
from school children to seniors, by:
•
Planning responsibly for the town’s
future and addressing problems before they cause a crisis
• Maintaining
an excellent public education system
• Protecting open space and preserving the rural beauty of Easton
• Controlling taxes to keep our town affordable
• Advocating for improvements to town services and facilities
• Supporting no development that endangers the distinctive qualities
of our small town
We encourage the active participation of all Easton citizens in town decision-making. It is only by working together, in a spirit of mutual respect, that we will achieve the brightest possible future for the town we call home.
