Milford's Joe Di Canero Upset With Fowler And RTC

Unbelievable! Milford GOP leader Jack Fowler sure has got some nerve. In his letter to the editor published June 25 he is furious at Rocco Frank for even mentioning Mayor Jim Richetelli's Milford taxpayer funded pension, the one he will get if he wins the upcoming election. He raves like a mad man who's trying to protect his last chicken from an inquisitive fox.

Fowler gets all bent out of shape, choking on a fur ball of anger, all because someone mentions the pension. You know, the pension Mayor Richetelli will get at aged 50 whether he is sitting at the beach sipping an iced tea or happens to get another high paying senior position, most likely within the GOP. A pension that will be paid for by all of us here in Milford, whether we have a job or are being
crushed by the current economic circumstances and the ridiculously high property taxes. You know, the pension he will get despite the consequences of the economic hole he is digging for us right now, so regardless of how good or bad his legacy is we'll just keep paying it like good little sheep. You know which pension I'm referring to. I'm sure you do.

But you can't stop Fowler. He is a man of passion. Of telling it the way it is. A man of principle.

Strange, then, was his and RTC Chairman Tom Jagodzinski's silence concerning my letter about the internal rot that is devouring the Milford GOP. Maybe they hope that if they bury their head in the sand it will just go away. Or by attacking Rocco Frank it will distract us from this greater issue facing our party. The issue of irrelevance.

Both Fowler and Jagodzinski know I am speaking the truth, and the accuracy of my letter left them both dumbfounded. The email Jagodzinski circulated within the party concerning my letter soon after its publication proves it. Jagodzinski effectively stated to everyone in the GOP that 'all is good, don't read the letter, don't panic, we are financially ok'.

What have finances got to do with the slow death and growing irrelevance of the Milford GOP?

Why have Collins, Munk, Marshall, Spalthoff and numerous other former GOP leaders abandoned the party if everything is so fantastic? Why are so many senior figures in the GOP so sick of you, Jagodzinski, Mayor Jimmy and all your inner-circle buddies doing self-serving deals, that they not only left the party but are now actively campaigning against the GOP to get rid of all of you before the party dies?

Why not get upset about this Fowler, something that should concern you more than Jimmy's pension? Or has Jimmy taken another mysterious 6 hiatus and so is not able to address this issue on his own?

It saddens me, really saddens me to see the party I love, yes love, being left in the hands of these morticians that are waiting for its final breath. Maybe Fowler and his friends should stop worrying about Spalthoff, Rocco Frank and the Milford Independent Party and start worrying about our Milford GOP. Even better, maybe they could do us a favor and leave the GOP, and go join the Democrats to suck the life out of their party instead.

Joe Di Canenero

Tim Chaucer Demands Change In Milford

The city would look very different today if Tim Chaucer were running things.

In formally announcing his candidacy for mayor Monday evening, the Democrat listed several instances when his intervention -- even as a private citizen -- got large development plans rejected.

"When the current administration formulated plans to consolidate our two geographically balanced high schools, we formed Milford Citizens Against Mega Schools," he said during a rally on the City Hall steps.

"We showed how consolidating was not only a bad idea educationally, but would be more costly to the city taxpayer. We won the battle."

Chaucer said he opposed a proposal in the 1980s to reroute Gulf Street so that a developer and his daughter would have homes with a better view. "I am proud that we protected the beautiful vista from the Indian burial ground on Gulf Pond when elected officials did not have the city's best interests at heart."

The retired history teacher reminded the 15 supporters at the rally that the historic Merwin-Cadley homestead on Gulf Pond was torn down last year despite assurances by Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. that it would be saved. A developer paid less than the market value in exchange for a conservation easement that was to protect the property, Chaucer said.

The candidate said he opposed a plan to improve Eisenhower Park because it would have meant charging fees to residents to recoup the cost. "The park is there for
everyone to enjoy, for free," he said.

"And it certainly doesn't need $20 million of so-called improvements."

City officials were "asleep at the switch'' when the Langner property next to the library became available several years ago, Chaucer said.

"It was a park-like setting with black walnut trees, and it could have been acquired to add to the recreation complex next to it," he said. "Instead, there are condos on it now and parking at our ball fields is at a premium."

Chaucer said that he would foster open government by, among other measures, putting a logbook in the mayor's office that anyone could review. "It's transparency. We ought to know who our mayor is spending his time with." He'd also consider periodic public hearings on the operation of city departments and to hear residents' complaints.

The candidate admitted he faces an uphill battle at the Democratic nominating convention Wednesday night. Most party leaders seem to have promised their support to Genevieve Salvatore, currently the chairman of the Economic Development Commission. Chaucer would not rule out a primary.

Salvatore said, "It isn't surprising to me that there are more people interested in this race. Many people in Milford are dissatisfied with the status quo and we all agree that it is a good time for a change in leadership. While it's great that others are concerned about Milford's future, I am confident that I will be nominated by the Democratic Town Convention this week.

"I have a strong vision for our city's future and I believe that such vision, together with strong leadership, will be crucial for our success in November and beyond."

Richetelli said he is running on his eight-year record in office.

Peter Spalthoff, the Independent Party mayoral candidate, said, "Tim announcing that he is running for mayor simply goes to my belief that the citizens of Milford can only be the winners with more choices of candidates. There is no reason in the world why there should only be two candidates for the position."

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About Chaucer: Timothy Chaucer is the former chairman of the Milford Conservation Comission and a former elected member of the Milford Planning and Zoning Board. n He founded Milford Citizens Against Mega Schools several years ago to fight attempts to consolidate Jonathan Law and Joseph A. Foran high schools. n Chaucer has been program chairman for the Milford Historical Society for the past five years, and is nominating chairman for the Milford Preservation Trust. n He is the founder and director of the Milford Marine Institute Inc., which has educated more than 1,000 Milford children since 1983 about the value of salt marshes, woodlands, farmlands and meadows. n He is a retired high school and college instructor of American history, as well as criminal and civil law, and retains his state teaching certification

ORIGINAL ARTICLE BY FRANK JULIANO

Spalthoff Challenges Mayor's Commitment To Jonathan Law's Students

Mayor Richetelli’s sense of priorities and judgment continue to frustrate and confound me. I spent July 6Th at the Milford Aldermanic meeting along with other fellow tax payers. We were all there to speak up in favor of moving forward with the existing plan and proposed bonding for completing important and long needed renovations on Jonathan Law High School. This is a project that was previously approved and committed to by the Mayor. To date, tens of thousands of dollars have been spent. I, along with other Milford taxpayers at the meeting, spoke out in favor of completing the project, and adamantly objected to leaving important renovations to this school unfinished at a time when our community needs the investment most.

The contractor has decreased the project’s cost by nearly 25%, which will, if we move forward, save the City almost $750,000.00. In addition, the current interest rate on the bonds are likely lower now than they will be in the future, and completing the project now would most certainly bring a larger reimbursement from the State as a high priority infrastructure project. But, all the numbers and logical arguments aside, Mayor Richetelli made a commitment to the citizens of Milford, and to the students and faculty at Jonathan Law. A commitment that he is now not ready to follow up on.

Sure, these are difficult economic times-and some projects, even important ones, will have to go on the back burner. But just a few days after the Aldermanic meeting, the Mayor got word from Governor Rell that she was standing by her commitment to the Silver Sands boardwalk project. Ironically, Governor Rell noted that “the State should honor its promise to extend the boardwalk. “Not surprisingly, Mayor Richetelli agreed with her, calling her decision “wise” because construction costs are low and significant money has already been spent. Sound familiar?

Fortunately, by the end of the July 6th meeting, the Aldermen did pass the resolution to raise the bond money and finish the Jonathan Law renovations-despite the five republicans voting against it, and Mayor Richetelli’s personal recommendation to vote against it as well.

The most confusing and frustrating part of Mayor Richetelli’s inconsistent opinions is that it would appear our Mayor is more strongly in support of extending a boardwalk than investing in our schools. This, my friends, is completely unacceptable.

I do want to thank Governor Rell for standing by her commitments to Milford's infrastructure projects, and to the Aldermen who made thoughtful and logical judgments in favor of the Jonathan Law bonding proposal. And, an extra-special thank you to all of you who took time out of your day to make your voices heard at the Aldermanic meeting. It is largely your voices that moved the project forward and gained the Aldermen’s support.

Peter L. Spalthoff

Independent Party Candidate for Mayor 2009

Soon After Opposing Law Construction, Richetelli And Lambert Condemn Boardwalk Cancellation

Just a few short days ago I was at city hall fighting for the Jonathan law expansion with Peter Spalthoff, and the city Alderman agreed with us that education is important. The Alderman Voted in favor of the Bonding and the kids of Milford scored a small victory.

This Boardwalk story today is a parody of this subject, and in lieu of those events has brought me a smile with some great irony. The irony here is that Lambert was absent at the Jonathan Law Meeting, she made no known comment on the school cutbacks, while Richetelli said the city is struggling and this is not the "right time" to be spending money on fixing up our schools.

Jonathan Law's Principal along with a platoon of concerned citizens asked for our kids to have proper facilities built including one Law student who said the condition of the restrooms are of grave concern and somewhat of a "joke" with the student body.

Still yet these important issues, (and after a few short days) are long forgotten, because Lambert and Richetelli would rather ignore the issue of Jonathan Law students being educated on carts, and "fly" down to the beach to demand our financially strapped state build Milford a giant Boardwalk.

Lambert has been heavily favored by the elderly here in town, as she herself is a volunteer and a senior at the Milford senior center. It is no secret that seniors in Milford are Anti-Education as they have made their voices heard loud and clear during the last tax increase. Lambert also received much needed support from seniors and has done little to push for a world class school system here in Milford. Lambert appears to support much of what seniors want.

While I must sit back in awe, as I watch this politically motivated beach spectacle take place, I must also stand dumbfounded that our leaders actually believe the state is going to build us a boardwalk ahead of fixing this states health care fiasco.

Rell already vetoed two bills, and CT has a 9 Billion Dollar Budget gap that is growing every day. One really has to wonder if our Lambert and Richetelli have any basis in reality on this boardwalk issue. While they both enjoyed some free press, I must sadly say... "Sorry Ms. Lambert and Mr. Richetelli if we cant afford schools, than it stands to reason that Milford cant afford a luxurious boardwalk."

READ MORE AT THE MIRROR

RELATED POST

Democrats Hold First Annual Awards Dinner

Democratic Town Chairman Richard Smith wasn't sure how long it had been since the Milford Democrats last held an awards dinner. He did remember, though, that he had won Young Democrat of the Year. The crowd laughed.

"I don't know why that's funny," he said into the microphone, smiling.

(l-r) Vito Casignoli, Richard Smith, Robert Berchem, and Michael Smith

The event at Aldario's marked a return to tradition for Milford's Democratic Party, and the well-attended dinner drew its share of powerful Democrats. State Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo made an appearance, and former Speaker of the House, Milford resident, and gubernatorial candidate Jim Amann was the master of ceremonies for the night. Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, and Mark Ojakian, Deputy Comptroller of the State of Connecticut (representing Nancy Wyman) were also in attendance.

State Representatives Paul Davis, Richard Roy, and Barbara Lambert were joined by State Senator Gayle Slossberg to present official citations to the award winners. Democratic Mayoral candidate Genevieve Salvatore was also in attendance and received a warm reception. Music was provided by Alderman Bob Nunno, bandleader at West Shore Middle School, and his brother, bassist Mike Nunno.

Michael Smith, a local party activist who recently battled non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, was honored as the Young Democrat of the Year. Michael, diagnosed one year ago, is now cancer-free and planning to bike almost 300 miles to raise money for cancer research.

"Although we're calling it the Young Democrat award," Rich Smith said from the podium, "we had it engraved as a ‘Profile in Courage' award, because that's really what it is."

Vito Castignoli, longtime treasurer to Milford Democratic campaigns, was honored with a Lifetime Contribution Award. A tireless volunteer who never sought recognition for his work, it seemed an appropriate honor.

"The reward for a job well done is that you get to keep doing it." Castignoli said. "I hope I get to keep doing it for another twenty-seven years."

Finally, Attorney Robert Berchem was honored as the Democrat of the Year. Calling him a "Democrat's Democrat," Sen. Slossberg helped present the award. "If you're a Milford Democrat, there are certain people you have to go meet, that you have to go talk to. Bob Berchem is at the top of that list."

Rich Smith called the dinner a "success" and said he looked forward to doing it again next year.

Original Story Posted HERE

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.