Frank Leads Race, Campaign Update For The 118th

Recent Polls conducted by our staff have put the Independent Party Rocco Frank in the lead. The exact figures will not be released but we will say that our opponents are now in the rear view mirror. Quinnipiac University, also did similar studies and with the big parties calling their results "Unscientific" and demanding that the unfavorable numbers not be released, so too did we decide to represent the same since so many tempers are flaring.

Tactics have been becoming increasingly desperate for those opponents of the major parties who refuse to hold their bosses and colleagues accountable for the giant mess they all created together in our town and state. The outlook is positive on the Frank Campaign and we are honored to have the opportunity to call them out in every debate.

The last debate will be aired on MGAT T.V. Channel 79 thanks to the efforts of St. Gabriels, Brother Larry and the Frank campaign staff who made all the necessary arrangements to bring this debate into public view. We do recommend watching it as Gayle answered a public attack from a city official from Orange.

Debates And Forums Coming To Milford

If you are UNDECIDED, then please consider attending one of our upcoming Public Forums.

With the changing economy, and new and challenging issues continuing to impact the lives and futures of so many individuals from all walks of life, the future leaders of Connecticut will soon be empowered to fulfill their public obligations to us all.

The General public is cordially invited to attend the following pre-election community forums. Small Businesses, Seniors, Veterans, City officials, and all persons with a vested interest in the good governance of our great city are encouraged to attend.

Citizens of Milford, and the general public, will be afforded a unique opportunity to ask each of the three party candidates to address current events as well as share public or personal concerns.

Bring your friends, your relatives, and anyone who has a vested interest in the future of Milford. Rocco Frank believes that an informed public is our best defense against the injustices that people may feel.

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10.24.08 Smart Growth Candidate Forum at St. Gabriel's Come see and hear the candidates discuss Smart Growth. This event will be an open forum with a moderator/volunteer to be announced. Expected in attendance will be all candidates from the, the 118Th House Districts. The event will kick off at 7:00 P.M. in the school gym.:

10.22.08 Candidate Forum at St. Mary School Come see and hear the candidates discuss the issues in town. This event will be an open forum with a moderator/volunteer from the church. Expected in attendance will be candidates from the 12th Senatorial District, the 117Th 118Th and 119Th House Districts. This event will commence at 7:30 P.M.:

10.21.08 Candidate Forum at Plymouth Men's Club This Event is at 34 West Main Street Milford, CT 06460. They can be reached at 877-4277. The event will be a question and answer forum with dinner served. Cost of dinner tickets is $10.00 Per Person. Event kick off is on a Tuesday. Dinner served at 7:00P.M. Forum begins at 8:00P.M.

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State Rep Cafero "Legislature Unfriendly To Small Business."

Larry Cafero, Norwalk state Representative in a recent meeting with republican candidates has called the state legislature "unfriendly to small business."

In a partisan and divisive attack, Rep. Cafero blamed the house Democrats as the culprits behind the economic turmoil in our state. Cafero has claimed that our state legislature was rated "50Th out of 50" as the least friendly legislature to small business in America.

As a small business owner myself, I can certainly agree that there are challenges, but placing blame one single party is a stretch unless we exclude the Rowland era corruption and the accusations of bid rigging and beyond all over the state.

From my vantage point, and as a small business owner myself, I can personally attest that the problems I face are more to do with my customers struggling to make ends meet. While I, like most businesses do no not have a Beverly Hills elite clientele but rather the everyday middle class family people as my customers, charging a profit in the wake of fierce competition can hardly be blamed on any one single party let alone the Democrats.

What challenges small business in Connecticut is as simple as the cost of living, Food and Energy inflation and the availability of living wage jobs. Our state legislature certainly can make things easier by lowering the price of gas, but I assure you that if the energy price drops to that of New Jersey we will need tolls. Even in NJ where gas is cheap in the long run you pay more just through the aggregate taxation of tolls added to the cost of getting around.

With our legislative record now marred as the worst in America perhaps it is time to get serious about providing solutions and not blaming Democrats for political gain. When Cafero indicated in his July stump speech that he let the National Republicans define the scope and purpose of our state leaders, he admitted that their complacency and trust for their national party has become a problem.

The Republicans now are composed of less than 400,000 to the overwhelming 700,00 democrats in this state. Nothing however compares to the largest group of registered voters the "Unaffiliated" (Or as I believe the Independents) now registered to the tune of 800,000.

These numbers speak clearly to me about how the public feels toward the policies of the Republicans and the national agenda that Cafero wants to step away from. Cafero has good reason to try and reinvent the Republican Party in this state, he needs to take it back from the national leaders who have let the Bush Cheney legacy erode at the core of its scope and purpose.

The Republican party, as I remembered it was one that marked the progress and protections of the Constitution and kept the Republic of America strong. The Republicans were the precursor to the agenda of the upper class in America. Today we are struggling to maintain the integrity of the U.S. Constitution, we are debating things like freedom of speech as basic civil rights again. These were all policies imposed after 9/11 by the Republican administration.

In 2005 Bush called the constitution a "Goddamn piece of paper" and followed up with the Patriot act 1 & 2, started multiple wars with botched CIA intelligence and promoted the Anti-American agenda of the PNAC (Project for a new American Century). These are not to include the colossal bipartisan blunder of NAFTA, GAFTA and every other policy that allows for foreign invasion and export of jobs. Also, Illegal migrant workers were permitted leniency by both parties and are now the subject of angry debate not only in Connecticut but all over America.

How do we restore a sound macro-economy in connecticut when our biggest industry is weapons? Connectut makes Submarines, Helicopters, Satellites, Armaments, Radar, and yes of course gambling. Tradgically war is good for the state economy, however sad and frustrating this is to me Connecticut spoke again when our favorite war hawk Joe Lieberman was ousted from his own party. Our state is craving a peace industry, we do not desire to be a global supplyer of death merchandise and gambling.

Personally I respect Rep. Cafero, however I do not agree with his rhetoric that divides the parties rather than unites them. The problems we all face are not Republican or Democrat problems, they are Federal problems, they are global competition problems, energy problems, inflation problems and deficit in leadership problems. I know Mr. Cafero knows this, that is why I wrote this article today to take issue with his polarizing blame of something he clearly knows better on.

The answers to small business in Connecticut, is good Jobs, not just any job but good paying living wage jobs. Tax cuts for unemployed people do not help small business, nor does a little cheaper gas. What helps small business is for our kids and grand kids to have a future in which they can afford a home, a car, an education, and to go shopping. I cannot emphasize enough that jobs and living wage incomes is what this state needs and Connecticut should be focused on that, not blaming opponents for Connecticut's horrible record. Show me real solutions not blame!

Milford Oyster Fest Posts Huge Turnout Despite A Little Rain

The Milford Oyster festival was a huge success marked with much community involvement from a plethora of small business owners, arts and crafts vendors, rides, and political celebrities.

The most notable guest of this years festival, besides Foghat, was Jim Amann's 2010 opponent for governor Jody Rell. Some have clamored the irony of her guest appearance here in Milford but she was not short of company as local politicians, including our mayor and other candidates here in town, were "glued" to her as she travelled from booth to booth.

To our disappointment her entourage came within our vicinity and stared at the Independent Party booth. One of our volunteers Terri, said they looked rather perplexed, unsure what to do and ultimately walked passed us as if it was the right thing to do. Others disagreed and thank Gayle Slossberg who greeted us with her entire entourage with hugs for some of us who are her fans. I also would like to thank Richard Roy our state Representative from the 119Th who also was polite, introduced himself and engaged in positive friendly chat and Mike Brown who openly introduced himself and invited me to meet my Democratic opponent.

When I first embarked on this venture for state Rep. I called Jim Amann who said it was rather "odd" that I made a request to meet with him since I was in the running against him. His refusal to meet with me was even more strange in that he decided not to run shortly after the request was made. The reason that I add this point here is because at no time is my door closed to meeting with my opponents or anyone with ambitions of taking office. I have not met both my opponents but while I was out canvassing I did have the opportunity to present myself to my Republican contender.

My door is always open to any and all leaders I hold no allegiance to any party, I pay no favors to anyone. My beliefs and faith are in the values and integrity of good people, especially those who keep our best interests at heart.

Seriously Rocco Frank For The 118th! Over 1000 of you say Yes!

My Democratic opponents some time ago questioned the seriousness of my candidacy, until now I have yet to reply. However, with that in mind lets use the old saying that a "picture speaks a thousand words" and one thousand signatures is the milestone pasted on my wall back at our campaign headquarters.

While I understand from the town clerk that no one in the 118Th is aggressively pursuing signatures in the manner that our staff has, I will admit my disgruntled feelings that neither my Democratic or Republican opponent has to collect signatures. As I am told by my campaign advisers major parties are exempt from the signature process, even though the party I represent the Independent party is the largest party by affiliation and admission in Milford.

The photo above represents nearly 20% of the total 5,700 votes cast in the last election for our current popular representative Jim Amann. This, however is not the end of this process as we still have two more weeks of signature collecting ahead of us. The final tally will be confirmed by the Secretary of State in the coming months.

Devon's broken clock tower the Irony of Devon Day

The clock, erected on a park located on a bridge near the Stratford line is now apparently non functional. The clock celebrating its second year cost about as much as a small condo here in town.

To the amazement of many, this clock played music. Most people were not even aware that this clock was able to do that. The failure was blamed on a lightning strike, and is now something the taxpayers, or the state, must pay to repair.

This story is much like the fictional "Back To The Future" movie where the town clock also malfunctioned from a lightning strike becomes the focal point of Michael J. Fox's time machine. With the exorbitant outrageous expense of this clock, it is no wonder a local "handiman" was trying to spare someone the agony of a pricey repair that the taxpayers are yet to understand let alone afford.

Devon Day kicks off tomorrow right at this clock, the park considered one of its greatest accomplishments, and yet some who know about it find it strange and confusing that a park was not only built on a bridge, but has no recognizable parking access for visitors.

The Irony here is that Devon Day will commences under this broken clock and under the leadership of the people who, in my opinion, wasted an enormous amount of money on its erection. This day will most likely be one the few days this park will ever be used by the public.

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CORRECTION: The leadership in question in this article is the Devon Revitalization Committee, not the organizers of Devon Day who do a great job of unifying the community.