Letters: Stevenson Can Stand on 'Record of Integrity'

Democrats will bring sound financial strategies

To the Editor:

John Lundeen and his team of David Bayne and Vickie Riccardo deserve your vote on Nov. 8. They will bring professionalism and sound financial strategies to town government that which will allow businesses to thrive while assuring homeowners that their tax dollars are being well spent.

They support profitable, tax-producing use of the property at 35 Leroy for senior housing. They support creating a new modular senior center at the current site at a price wellbelow what is being proposed. They support creation of a Flood and Erosion Control Board as an effective resource for necessary flood control planning.

John Lundeen understands our community and its challenges and has the skills to lead the Board of Selectmen in focusing on what matters most.

Susan Cossette Eng

23 Baywater Drive

Stevenson Can Stand on Record of Integrity

To the Editor:

I take issue with the recent misinformed opinions of Democratic Town Committee member Tom Valentino in print and on the web. He questions the credibility of Jayme Stevenson for proposing that selectmen be available for executive session at 6:30 p.m. For the record, I am a publicly elected volunteer member of the Darien Board of Education and I am also a New York commuter. It can be inconvenient for me as well to attend the many scheduled meetings of the BOE, but I knew the commitment expectation when I sought to offer my services. Town boards have a difficult time enough trying to accommodate their members' schedules. Volunteers should understand the time commitment and be prepared to be able to attend those meetings. Those who coach youth sports, as I do, are also aware that the commitment requires us commuters to have to take earlier trains or hit I-95 sooner on game nights.

Therefore, I find Mr. Valentino’s "credibility" question misguided. I know of no one in Darien who has found Dave Campbell remiss in his duties due to his work obligations. In fact, I find it highly credible that he is stepping aside as he feels he has to dedicate more time to his business. Rather than become the part time town CEO, Dave is continuing to offer his proven "get it done" abilities by remaining on the board as a selectman.  

In a recent comment on Patch, Mr. Valentino also demonstrated how misinformed he is when he asked about Jerry Nielsen, "who is that man?" As one of the town's most visible businessmen and volunteers, I wonder how he could not know Jerry Nielsen’s name. Jerry and his company have been staunch supporters of townwide events for over fifty years. He has also been an advocate and has helped to bring in some of the recent businesses our town has attracted. Jerry’s a visible attendee at youth sports as between his children and his nieces and nephews, he has been a frequent visitor to games in every sport Darien offers. Didn’t see him in the stands? Look behind the bench where he has been a youth Hockey coach for years. Jerry’s commitment to Darien public education included his integral role in the construction of one of the finest high schools in our state.

Alone, Jayme Stevenson can stand on her own record of integrity, consensus-building, and dedicated town service. Few people in town have volunteered as much of their time to our students and supported the Board of Education through service on school PTO’s or through The Depot as Jayme. As anyone can see, in Dave Campbell and Jerry Nielsen, Jayme Stevenson has aligned herself with two highly credible, well informed, tirelessly involved colleagues. Her credibility is intact, and those who question it must not know the meaning of the word.

Morgan B. Whittier

41 Walmsley Road