Rhorig Will Not Seek Re-Election Republicans Face New Challenges

The Thursday night meeting of the Milford Republican Town Committee was in fact an emergency meeting to fill the vacancy left by Board of Education member Rhorig. As many may know the Rhorig's were subjected to a criminal investigation over underage drinking, and on a separate issue were dealing with a sexual assault charge involving her twin sons. Although the police found no wrong doing on the part of Rhorig and school Superintendent Polanski who was at the High School Graduation Party for Chelsea, the pressure, and negative publicity proved too great and in light of these problems her choice to drop out became clear.

Their new choice to replace Rhorig will be announced soon, and is more bizarre than the Republican's opening their Headquarters in the same plaza with the annex to the Independent party Headquarters.

While I plan to comment later on this, I will say that their new candidate to replace Rhorig is unbelievable so check back time to time for details. Sorry to keep you in suspense but I expect that there will be even more backlash toward the Republicans when I reveal what I know.

In the meantime, the Republican Party is still struggling with Defectors, and a dwindling base of support. From the Richetelli Drug Rehab Furlough, to the Rhorigs, to the loss of their former RTC chairman, and many other defectors, it is quite certain that forces within the Republican Party are at work "tearing it apart" and, even when confronted and shown in plain sight they continue to erode their base.

While I wish the best for Milford, I see Richetelli's campaign in real trouble. Last election he barely beat Kerri Rowland in a two way race. This year the Democrats have a much more articulate candidate and the Republicans are in a three way race against their former chairman Peter Spalthoff who is more capable and competent than Richetelli.

Quite sadly the Republicans continue to struggle, mainly because their leadership is weak, their support base fractured, and the greater Republican party as a whole mired in Bush era corruption. But one item really hurting the Richetelli campaign has been its crippling of our schools in Milford. Last year he presided over a panic of 180 teachers being fired, petitions by kids and parents with thousands of signatures and a standing room only protest over the school budget.

This year Richetelli tried to force teachers at Jonathan Law to teach on carts and out of Janitors closets because he refused to support a desperately needed addition. Thankfully the mayor was overruled by a sensible board of Alderman.

In short this mayor has been a menace to public education, and every teacher and student in town should take notice and vote accordingly. When education suffers Milford's kids pay, they pay by failing state tests like the recent embarrassing results of the CAPT test scores putting Milford at the bottom of the state in Math and English.

Milford needs board of education members and a Mayor who believe in building a "world class" school system, not a partisan political machine that puts more "Rich" in Richetelli. As it stands our mayor will cost Milford over Three million dollars in lifelong, pension and family medical benefits if re-elected. Milford cannot afford "Rich"-etelly. Lets remember to vote for our futures this year and not line the pockets of greedy politicians.

Above photo from the Milford Democrats who have a clear plan for the Milford Republicans.

Milford School Suspensions Decline To 16

Officials say the good news is that the number of city students being expelled from school dropped significantly, from 27 in 2007-08 to 16 during the most recent school year.

But the bad news is that the cases involving the expulsions “were more involved,” said Superintendent of Schools Harvey B. Polansky.

Five Joseph A. Foran High School students, one from Jonathan Law High School, and six Alternative Education High students were expelled for inappropriate behavior, officials said. Additionally, one Harborside Middle School student and two from West Shore Middle School were expelled, according to a report produced by school administrators. The annual expulsion report is mandated by the state.

The report details that a 17-year-old Foran student was expelled for one year last July for inappropriate sexual behavior in school; an Alternative Education student, also 17, was expelled in February for possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a weapon on school grounds, and an 18-year-old Law student was expelled in May for threatening via the Internet to shoot up the school.

Also, the report says, on June 10, two Foran students were expelled: one for one semester for igniting fireworks in the school, causing the building to be evacuated, and another for a school year for inappropriate and threatening text messaging.

Other students were expelled for threatening staff members, possession of marijuana at school, stealing and possession of stolen property, bullying and threatening, and threats made to students, the report says.

“The value of the expulsion report is it gives us knowledge of what the teachers and administrators have to face in the building,” said Board of Education Chairman David Hourigan, D-4. “It gives us a perspective as to what goes on during the day.”

Hourigan said it’s interesting that the total number of expulsion cases has declined since last year. He said the state has amended the expulsion law, which makes it more likely students will be expelled.

The law previously allowed administrators to suspend students five times, for up to 10 days or a total of 50 days, before expulsion, but now students can only be suspended for 10 days before they have to be expelled.

As for the severity of the cases, Hourigan said, unfortunately “these things happen year after year.”

“Our hope is the number of incidents decreases as the kids get wiser,” Hourigan added.

ORIGINAL STORY BY BRIAN MCREADY