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Interested in a Legitimate Choice

Chester voters interested in a legitimate choice in this November municipal election should attend the Democratic caucus July 21. The Democratic Town Committee has put forward a candidate for first selectman, Lauren Gister, who has no government or managerial experience, doesn’t own real estate or pay real estate property tax, and hasn’t voted in the last two elections.

At the caucus, Democrats need to ask about the process of selecting candidates. Anyone can put forward a name for consideration. If no one comes forward to challenge the party machine, it will be politics as usual. Politics as usual is why many residents are straining under a heavy burden of real estate property taxes, sparse services, little-to-no economic development, and much bureaucratic churn with little positive progress.

The position of first selectman is not for on-the-job training by someone disinterested, with a poor grasp of finances and budgeting, and who doesn’t pay tax and hasn’t bothered to vote in recent elections. Chester has a more than $12 million-a-year budget, dozens of employees, and millions of dollars in projects underway or planned—all put at risk by poor decision making or bad management.

Chester Democrats should mark their calendars for Tuesday, July 21 at 7 p.m. at the Meeting House. It is time the rank and file made their voices heard and challenged the Democrat’s machine politics as usual.

Joe Cohen

Chester