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Voters Want Change

Clinton voted for change—here’s why and how. Clinton has a commercial development crisis and it’s plain to see. We have vacant stores, some blighted, and failed developments like the old Morgan School. It’s so bad town officials are tempted to accept any development proposal. Moving CVS from downtown to a worse location might be an example. Our tax base of commercial properties is frightfully stagnant.

This coupled with the 10 percent tax increase and the public had enough. With the commercial decline, the burden of taxes is shifting to residential properties. With the loss of state subsidies either this year or next, we have a bona fide financial crisis on our hands. So what was the reaction of our incumbents? Pretty much nothing, except to raise taxes. What was the reaction of the Republican Party? It ignored the obvious and endorsed all incumbents. Kirk Carr and I were rebuffed, so we filed primary petitions. We resoundingly won the primary to which First Selectman Bruce farmer said the result was not representative!

The Democrat Town Committee (DTC) to its credit didn’t endorse the incumbents, so the incumbents forced a primary, but lost decisively. Message delivered, but was it received? Nonetheless this is progress. I do wonder however if the Democrats have the political will regarding the financial crisis. There’s only a vague reference on the DTC website to reducing taxes.

It’s clear that voters want change, real change, not just new people or people tinkering at the edges. The change candidate is Kirk Carr. He is energetic, imaginative and full of ideas. He is the only person your readers can trust to reduce taxes. If you think people can absorb an endless cycle of increased taxes, just ask the folks who are struggling in our manufactured home parks.

Phil Sengle

Clinton

Republican Phil Sengle is seeking a seat on the Board of Selectmen.