Letters: Republican Selectmen Are 'Competent and Tech-Savvy' Team

Republican selectmen are competent and tech-savvy team

Please join me in supporting the selectmen team of Jayme Stevenson, Dave Campbell and Jerry Nielsen. 

For the past two years, this effective team has led our town, working through a number of challenging and controversial issues. But for me, their shining moment came during and after Hurricane Irene. All three of them worked hard to coordinate recovery and keep us informed, whether through reverse 911 calls or regular Tweets and Facebook postings. 

Darien needs this competent and tech-savvy team to lead us once again! 

Sara Zagrodzky

Crimmins Road

Riccardo will bring passion, thoughtfulness, and fairness

Based on my experience working directly with Vickie Riccardo for almost two years on the Charter Revision Commission I know that she will bring passion, thoughtfulness, and fairness to her work if she is elected selectman. 

I worked with Vickie on the Charter Revision Commission in which she did an excellent job as the Chairperson. The commission was made up of many strong personalities, and Vickie was able to lead us, make sure we were all heard, and that we worked together.

Vickie’s greatest strength came when the proposed charter was released to the public. Vickie made sure all of the citizens voices were heard, and the commission took into account everything that was said. Vickie’s work was tireless. She spent many nights on her own and with other commission members writing and editing the proposed charter. 

The fact that she was on the Chart Revision Commission indicates that she knows the way the town should be run and what is expected of a selectman, as well as how the selectman work with all the other boards and the RTM.

Vickie is very dedicated to the town of Darien and public service and I will vote for her in November.

David Young

18 Great Hill Road

Stevenson is the best leader for Darien

Jayme Stevenson has all the right qualities to be an outstanding First Selectman. She takes the time to learn all facets of the issues that need to be addressed in town. She has spent moretime attending meetings, talking to concerned parties, and listening to all sides than any other person I know of in town government. She is both reasoned and reasonable, making decisions governed not by politics, but by what makes the most sense. She leads by building consensus, having rational discussions to come to the best conclusions.

I have worked with Jayme onnumerous town issues, and have always been impressed by her grasp of the facts, and herwillingness to modify her position when new facts are presented. She also knows that for some issues — such as the "Shuffle" — no solution is perfect, but that we must move forward with the bestinterests of the town as the guiding principle. This is the type of leader we need in Darien, one who cares deeply about the town and its future. Please join me in voting for Jayme Stevenson, Dave Campbell, and Jerry Nielsen on Nov. 8.

Joanne Hennessy

72 Holly Lane

Costs of shuffle spiraling out of control

I was disheartened reading about the Sept. 13 Board of Education meeting where they discussed the costs of moving to 35 Leroy. It appears the true costs of the project are unknown. Several capital items are not included in the construction costs, such as replacing a roof of "indeterminate age" and repaving the parking lot.

Our fine BoE struggles each year with increasing expenses they can’t control. Moving their offices to a separate building and expanding their footprint is likely to add to their operating costs, reducing the overall dollars available to our schools.

The costs of the proposed “shuffle” are spiraling out of control. It seems to me that the “shuffle” is more about finding a use for 35 Leroy than fulfilling a need: replacing our deteriorating senior center. Our town has finite resources. Egos must be put aside so a rational and fiscally responsible decision can be made that maximizes the use of our tax dollars. The seniors deserve a new facility — why not build where they are currently located? — and our children deserve budget dollars channeled into the classroom, not office space.    

Carol Caulfield