Mr. Edelson - Step Aside!!

This is an open letter to our First Selectman Edelson.

Ed, in light of your evident misappropriation of public funds it’s time to do the right and honorable thing and drop out of the race for First Selectman!  You’ve become a discredit to the town, to the Democratic Party that you represent, and to everyone who ever believed you were a principled man.  Now is the time for you to step aside from any aspiration to governmental power and the control of public funds.

You certainly have a base of support among Democrats – and many will vote for you no matter what.  Who knows - you could still win this thing.  But think about this - how likely is it that with all of these mounting allegations - you will be able to keep your office in the months to follow?

Ed, your silence on this matter is deafening.  Your utter failure to respond to these allegations only serves to prove that they are true.  Nobody really cares about how these charges came to be public knowledge – or that the Michaels’ investigation may not have followed obscure bureaucratic protocols as your supporters now contend.  That talk is for the lawyers – not for common folk like me.  The facts are - that the allegations were made by a reputable source – they are backed up with copious evidence - they are credible – and you have not refuted them.

This isn’t Washington DC – this is Southbury, CT.  Here, we expect honesty and common sense from our elected officials.  Many of us are what you might call “old-school” and we don’t want this hanging over our town. 

Ed, here’s a list of four things you did.  Any one of them could or should disqualify you from public office.

1.       Misappropriation of Public Funds:   We’ve both read the John Michaels’ Press Release – so I don’t have to rehash the details.   I know it’s only $1,000 – but we are now wondering if you’ve misappropriated other public funds.  The public trust in your ability to handle town monies is now irreparable damaged.  Even if you fight these charges – if they are prosecuted and proven – you will likely be removed from office – in unmitigated disgrace.

2.       Operating a Business in Violation of Zoning:  How can a man with your experience and intellect - who runs the whole town - not know that his business is seriously out of zoning compliance – for ten years?  It’s understandable that you simply chose to ignore the rules – because you didn’t figure to be caught – and were able to substantially enhance your income as a result.  It’s telling that the misappropriation of funds mentioned above was also done to prop up this same business.

3.       Cover-Up of the Truck #6 Accident:   At a Board of Selectman meeting on September 19th – a private citizen came forward with photographic evidence of a major accident – involving Dump Truck #6 on town property.  This accident occurred about 90 days prior - and you were on the scene the same day that it happened.  Yet – you never discussed the accident with the Board until this citizen brought it to their attention.  How is it that a $400 leaf blower that got stolen made it to the papers – as did the theft of $800 from Park and Rec – while the loss of $180,000 worth of town equipment did not?  I can only speculate as to why you opted to not bring this to the public’s attention – but whatever the reason – this stands as an example of incredibly bad judgment on your part.

4.       Mil Rate Non-Disclosure:  You didn’t disclose the Mil Rate prior to the last budget vote – even though the minutes of a Board of Finance meeting from weeks before the vote – prove that you knew exactly what it would be.  The town voted to approve your budget – without knowing how it would affect their taxes and their lives.  Southbury was the only town in the state that went to the polls without a clue as to what tax rates we were voting for.  Even the Waterbury Republican American chastised you for this.  You pulled a fast one on the voters.  Shame on you!

I could go on – but it’s getting late – so I’ll limit the list to what I consider your top four bad deeds.  So what’s it going to be, Ed?  Are you going to do the right thing and step aside – or are you going to fight to the bitter end?  I really don’t see how this ends well for you – and it’s better for all if you do the right thing – and do it now.