If Elected, Will Llodra/Rodgers Become the New Borst/Mangiafico?

When you view their voting records in the past two years on the Legislative Council, you would have to wonder how Pat Llodra and Will Rodgers can say they are on the same page.  Maribeth Hemingway points this out in a letter to the Newtown Bee that lists the diametrically opposed voting records of the two Republican Board of Selectmen running mates.

We don’t begrudge that Mrs. Llodra and Mr. Rodgers have different views in which they strongly believe, but we have to wonder if we will see the same gridlock in the new Board of Selectmen that we saw these past two years.  This was a result of a clear, and immediate, falling out between Republican First Selectmen Joe Borst and Selectman Paul Mangiafico that started the minute Mr. Borst tried to live up to his campaign promise to re-evaluate the plans for Fairfield Hills.  Republican Selectman Mangiafico sided with Democratic Selectman Herb Rosenthal on that issue and the rest is history.

The most prominent issue that Mrs. Llodra and Mr. Rodgers have clearly agreed upon is Fairfield Hills.  As members of the Legislative Council, both were advocates of staying the course and both were opposed to suggestions by Po Murray and Gary Davis for greater oversight of Fairfield Hills activities by having the Council’s Ordinance Subcomittee review the Fairfield Hills Authority Ordinance. 

At the recent Pizza and Politics public forum, Mrs. Llodra indicated that she now would be willing to revisit the Fairfield Hills Master Plan.  However, Mr. Rodgers pointedly warned the audience that they should be wary of candidates who say they want to revisit the Fairfield Hills Master Plan stating, "It is a code word for starting all over again and throwing the baby out with the bath water”.  Doe this sound like they are on the same page?

Excerpts from Maribeth Heminway’s letter to the editor regarding the Llodra/Rodgers voting record says it all:  

To the Editor:

At the debate, Gary Fetzer opened by reminding us that the past is the best indicator of the future. I like to say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. The bottom line is, people don't change all that much.

That's why the idea that Pat Llodra and Will Rodgers are a team is so difficult for me. Let's take a look at the past...two short terms on the Legislative Council shows anything but a team:

5/10/06: Reduce the budget by $990k: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

5/10/06: Reduce the budget by $295k: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

5/10/06: Reduce the budget by $590k: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

4/4/07: Approve budget as presented by the Board of Finance: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

4/25/07: Cut $1.2 million: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

4/25/07: Cut $800k: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

4/25/07: Cut $900k: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

4/25/07: Cut $750k: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

4/25/07: Cut $750k with $542k from education, $150k from Board of Selectman and raise $58k in revenue: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

5/9/07: Cut $1.2 million from the budget: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

5/9/07: Cut $2.5 million from the budget: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

5/9/07: Cut $2.25 million from the budget: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

6/6/07: Increase the first selectmen's salary: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

12/19/07: Move the District 3-2 voting location: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

4/2/08: Approve bonding on HS expansion to go to town meeting: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

9/17/08: Change the high school bond language: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

9/17/08: Allow voters the chance to approve additional money for the high school: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

1/21/09: Add $350k for Parks and Rec maintenance facility to the CIP: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

1/21/09: Reduce the Rec center in the CIP from $4 million to $3.68 million: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

3/26/09: Increase the budget by $500k: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

The pattern is clear. Their votes on controversial issues like spending, taxes, and education are often not in line. We've had two years of Republican leadership on the Board of Selectmen, two years of people who didn't agree, and it has been detrimental to this town. We don't need two more years of fighting and negativity. It's time to move forward….

Bruce Walczak and Bill Furrier are clearly on the same page, as are the other Independent Party candidates in this election.  We have the opportunity of a lifetime to make a sea change in the way Newtown government operates.  Do you trust that the existing system of government with the same players will really be any different?   They have had their opportunity to make changes for many years and haven’t.  In the short time IPN has had elected officials in office, we have proven that we can build consensus and get things done.  Our call for improved governance is now accepted by all candidates.  They are now supporting our long-standing positions on long-term planning, Fairfield Hills, and communication.  However, it is an uphill struggle without more likeminded people in office.  All we need are more Independent Party candidates elected to office so we can move forward more rapidly with positive changes to benefit our community.

Please vote for us and give us an opportunity of a lifetime.  This is a historic election for Newtown.  Your choice will decide this chapter in Newtown history.