Letters: Bayne 'Has Earned Our Support'

David Bayne has earned our support

To the Editor:

I am pleased add my voice in support of David Bayne’s re-election to Darien’s Board of Selectmen on Nov. 8.

David is a non-partisan voice for effective town government. A hallmark of his current term is his willingness to put Darien first, and politics second. For example, during the March 2010 ice storm, when so many Darien homes were without power due to downed trees, David stepped up as acting first selectman to coordinate restoration of power and road clearance and to keep the Town up-to-date on progress in those areas.  

David’s training and experience as an attorney (the only attorney on the board of Selectmen) is an asset to the town. He is able to work closely with Darien's town counsel on such issues as town contracts, affordable housing, and strategy in cases to which the town is a party. As an attorney and a taxpayer myself, I am reassured that the town has decision-makers like David who are trained and experienced to handle complex legal questions confronting our community.

As the only board member who is a full‐time commuter to New York City, David has been a strong advocate for Darien’s commuters. In times of service cutbacks and fare increases, we commuters need an effective advocate in town government.

David has been a strong proponent of fiscal responsibility and open, transparent, and responsive government. These are values that draw support across the board and without regard to party labels. Our town officials need to keep their focus on government, rather than politics. David has shown a unique ability to do just that, by advocating solutions to such issues as affordable housing and flooding that have gained unanimous support in the Board of Selectmen.

David Bayne has earned our support. Please support David and his running mates, John Lundeen, and Vickie Riccardo on election day.

Michael Case

46 Fairfield Avenue

Democrats will work together for all of Darien 

To the Editor:

Against a background of constant and rancorous bickering in Washington, DC, I was heartened by the desire for bipartisanship as expressed in the campaign themes of both Republicans and Democrats: the Republicans "we are united" and the Democrats "Darien working together." However, on reading their respective platforms I was dismayed that the Republican Team of Stevenson, Campbell, and Nielsen wanted simply to unite their party whereas the Democratic Team of Lundeen, Bayne, and Riccardo were pledging to work together for all of Darien.

This perhaps indicates why on all the major issues of the last two years, the Board of Selectmen has split 3-2 strictly on party lines with the majority making no attempt to arrive at a consensus. As a consequence, we may be on the verge of spending big dollars on the "shuffle," turning the Republican reputation for fiscal responsibility on its head. In contrast, in the previous administration headed by Evonne Klein, major issues were often decided in a bipartisan manner.

Darien is not just Republican. It also has significant numbers of Independents and Democrats. So, in November, I will be voting for the team of Lundeen, Bayne, and Riccardo in the hope that we can all work together.

Sunil Saksena

354 Hoyt Street.