Photos
Almost sixty Heritage Village residents came out to meet Ed Edelson, candidate for First Selectman at an event hosted by the Heritage Village Democratic Club on Monday evening, August 29. The event took place on the patio at the Meeting House. All residents were invited.
In addition to Mr. Edelson, Ron Pugliese, candidate for Selectman and Steve Suriani, candidate for Board of Education were on hand to meet the residents and answer their questions. Donna Pereira and Ed Gittines, candidates for Selectman had planned to attend. Ms. Pereira made an unscheduled trip to Texas for the birth of her granddaughter. Mr. Gittines was called away on a business trip.
"We were very pleased with the turn out, especially considering that many were still dealing with the after effects of the Tropical Storm Irene. There is a great deal of interest in the 2011 municipal elections, unlike in 2009", said Club president Art Oshins.
After a short introductory speech about the campaign, Mr. Edelson answered questions from the Heritage Village residents about a variety of topics that concerns them.
"I heard many compliments about Mr. Edelson's ability to answer questions with relevant information that demonstrated his understanding of the concerns of seniors living in Heritage Village, his knowledge about Southbury's environment and organizations, and his prior service to the community. However, what most impressed the group was his pro-active approach to identifying problems and challenges and addressing them in thoughtful and creative ways. HV residents recognize that the pro-active approach leads to true cost-savings and efficiency over time", said Lorraine Marcantoni, former Vice-President of the Heritage Village Master Association.
Edelson told the group that soon after announcing his candidacy he wrote a letter to Ted Przedpelski , president of the Heritage Village Master Association. In that note, Edelson offered that if elected, he would want to meet on a regular basis with the HVMA president to continuously look for ways that Heritage Village and the Town of Southbury could work together in ways that benefit both.
Mr. Edelson and the Democratic candidates are scheduled to speak at the September meeting of the Heritage Village Democratic club on September 15. At that meeting, Mr. Edelson plans to address the specific issues that have been the cornerstone of his campaign.
Brenda Weir
5:12 pm on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
I had the honor of hosting a meet and greet for Ed recently. I, too, was very impressed with his thoroughness. What is so important is his eagerness to gather groups together for the benefit of all. He is very knowledgeable and determined to improve our town even more than it has been. That is no slight on Davis as Ed was careful to emphasize. He is our town's best candidate for First Selectman. Brenda Weir
FREE AT LAST!
10:16 am on Sunday, September 4, 2011
It is extremely impressive that Ed not only got the amount of residents to turn out that he did, but it was a day after a hurricane. This shows how villagers are tired of being treated as second class citizens by the Davis administration.
Brenda, I agree that Ed is more knowledgeable than our current first selectman. No matter how we slice it, Davis doesn't compare to the professionalism, education and business management experience that is brought to the table by Ed.
I agree with Ed leading the campaign season with his anti negativity stance, but pointing out the obvious such as the failures and shortcomings of the current first selectman is not negativity, it's fact.
Tree Taylor
7:29 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
The Edelson camp has been negative from Day 1 because that's all they have. False reports, rumors, lies, name-calling, trash talk, shallow, snide come-backs. That's all you have. It's monotonous.
Greg Kuehn
7:40 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
@Tree Taylor: I have not seen what you have seen. Could I ask you to elaborate with facts? If you've followed my comments in the past, you know that I'm not on Patch to bicker. I have no vested interest in anything other than learning as much as I can about our candidates so I can actually make an intelligent vote. At this point in the campaign, it seems quite clear to me that Ed Edelson is an excellent choice for First Selectman. I'm most curious to learn more about the things you refer to. Actually (and honestly), your comments seem like some kind of psychological transference. In any case, I am listening carefully and would appreciate a response.
FREE AT LAST!
7:40 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
Ladies and Gentlemen. Tree Taylor is the sophomoric political consultant hired by the Davis Campaign to further his policies of incompetence, ineptness and ignorance. .
Greg Kuehn
7:47 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
If Tree Taylor is Nicole Cline, the statements made in the above post violate their own "clean campaign" oath. Whatever. Since all the important players in Southbury party politics cloak themselves in anonymity, I'm not going to assume who anyone is. But if you're going to make some outlandish statements about a person and their campaign, I would think if you want to maintain ANY kind of credibility, you'd back it up with some facts. With that, I'm eager to hear a response from Tree Taylor with regard to my request.
Greg Kuehn
7:50 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
Ack… correction. Not "all" the important players. (that's what I get for not re-reading before posting - dangit!) But there's a handful of you out there that need to stand behind your statements with your name. Just my opinion.
FREE AT LAST!
7:50 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
Greg, you are truly one of the most unbiased posters here on Patch. What I have found with the Davis supporters is that since there is nothing positive about the last 3 years of Davis leading the town, they change the message, attack the messenger and try to dazzle and confuse.
Greg Kuehn
7:59 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
anyone but davis: thank you… I choose to stand behind my statements with my name, because I'm not here to cause damage to anyone. I just want good government in my town. And not for nothing, but I've learned a lot from you and a handful of others and I wish you all would find me somewhere in town and introduce yourself. I wanted to go to Edelson's open house last night, but I was working. Ed stopped by my house a few weeks ago to chat (which I was very impressed with) but, again, I was working. Can someone in Southbury please offer me a $90K job with a pension, so I don't have to commute to Westchester to work so I can have my awesome home in Southbury and enjoy it a little more? I have references! I am a top-notch worker! Ahhhhh…. I digress.
Tree Taylor
8:06 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
It is disingenuous of you to say "I'm not here to cause damage to anyone" and in your next breath say "Can someone in Southbury please offer me a $90K job with a pension, so I don't have to commute..." The intent was mean-spirited.
FREE AT LAST!
8:13 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
Greg, we all understand what you meant. You work for a living and commute and spend little time home with your family.
On the alternate side, Davis was handed a position he never would have been in had the former selectman not left mid term. He was given $90,000 a year, his first regular paycheck since leaving the Naval "weekend warrior" Reserves. And he gets to spend 7 hours a day, violating the towns ethics code by working with his sister in law and his wife.
And we all get the privilege of paying for it.
Greg Kuehn
8:19 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
I don't think your statement is correct, but I can understand why you might have misinterpreted what I wrote. I am asking you to provide some facts to back your mean-spirited statements about Ed Edelson and his campaign. To call me mean spirited is more of that psychological transference I was talking about. As for a light-hearted wish to actually work in the town that I live in - there's nothing disingenuous of that. I guess my comments about 90K + pension were interpreted somehow as a dig… but really - I think that's an excellent salary and compensation package and would love to put all my effort into any job that pays as well and allows you to work in the town you live in. Do you really think Bill Davis is the only guy in town making $90K a year with a pension? I'm not making a dig at him, which is why I said "I digress". If you are who others say you are, I understand why you'd be as defensive.
Tree Taylor
8:22 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
The comment was mean-spirited.
You are not an ethics commissioner and you are trying to present yourself as if you are. You don't know how to interpret ethics codes either. Can't interpret emails and can't interpret ethics codes. It is vindictive and mean-spirited to try to convince people otherwise. You probably didn't get something you wanted and now you're acting out.
Greg Kuehn
8:38 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
AHAHAH - back up your words with a name. You are correct! I didn't get something I wanted, which is facts to back up you're comments about Edelson. That's about it. LOL. I'm a fairly new resident, still… I'm actually quite happy with my town and I've chosen to be active in conversation so I can make an intelligent decision about voting. Your comments have done nothing so far to help in that matter.
FREE AT LAST!
8:39 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
Tree, Tree, Tree. You poor confused little soul.
SOUTHBURY DOES NOT HAVE AN ETHICS COMMISSION BECAUSE H.WILLIAM DAVIS JR. FAILED TO APPOINT ONE AFTER THE TOWN ETHICS CODE WAS ADOPTED IN FEBRUARY OF 2010---19 MONTHS AGO.
Now there are 2 pending ethics complaints, one against H. WILLIAM DAVIS JR for his ILLEGAL email inviting employees to a campaign function and SOLICITING DONATIONS from town vendors, AND NO ETHICS COMMISSION TO HEAR THEM!
Greg Kuehn
8:25 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
ABD: Thank you, yes - that's exactly what I was referring to. I sure do wish I was home more than I am.
And, Tree… about those facts. I said I'm listening carefully (because I REALLY AM listening and sorting through what people are saying) and I expect that you're going to back up your statements with some facts so the rest of us lay-folk can begin to understand what you're referring to when you say that Edelson has been engaging in "false reports, rumors, lies, name-calling, trash talk, shallow, [and] snide come-backs."
Greg Kuehn
8:49 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
Let me explain something… I spent some time getting to know Jeff Krizan, because I liked the idea that someone was going to make a stand against what I feel were poor decisions on the part of the SRTC. I like Jeff. I bet if I ever get to meet Bill Davis, I'm going to like him, too. Eventually I'll meet Ed Edelson and I already know I'm going to like him. But this isn't about the person. We all live here amongst each other. Many of us attend the same church, shop at the same stores… This is about politics, running our local government properly, having the experience to know how to do that, dedication to hearing the voice of the people and having the willingness to act on it.
Tree, if you're going to make a statement as outlandish as you have, you better be able to back it up with some proof. Otherwise, you're just a troll and flamer on this site. If you don't know what that means - here's a link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaming_(Internet)
Facts or flame - which is it?
Greg Kuehn
8:55 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
Oh, and a corresponding link to calling you a troll:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)