Wallingford Politico

Monday, November 14, 2011

As published in the Record Journal, Sunday November 13, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — A referendum on the lease agreements for a series of adjacent parking lots in the center of town is set for Monday, just five days after the municipal election.

In August, the Town Council agreed to enter into 30-year lease agreements with the owners of four commercial buildings along North Main Street. The leases stipulate that the town will spend up to a half-million dollars to repave and refurbish the parking area behind the buildings with the guarantee that the property will remain open for free municipal parking.

A group of residents collected enough signatures to force a referendum on repeal of the council resolution. While the signatures of only 10 percent of registered voters were needed to force Monday’s referendum, the Town Charter requires voter turnout of at least 20 percent for the referendum to be successful. On Election Day, 39.8 percent of registered voters went to the polls.

Two political action committees have formed over the issue — one supporting the lease agreements and one against the plan — and the opposing signs quickly became common throughout town. The town had been in a similar, year-to-year lease with property owners there since 1961.

Town Councilor Nicholas Economopoulos, a Democrat who opposes the deal, says it’s inappropriate to spend town money on private property and supports using eminent domain to secure a section of the parking area and void any lease agreements. It’s the latest idea in a cauldron of talk between residents.

“It’s a heck of a word and I don’t like to use it,” he said of eminent domain, “but if you’re just taking a piece of land and you’re going to use it for what it was used for in the first place, it’s not as bad.”

Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. and lease supporters have called the parking deal vital to the attractiveness and business health of the downtown area. The money for the improvements would come out of a fund given to the town by the Wallingford Electric Division every year for capital non-recurring projects.
One property owner in the lease, John McGuire, has said he would bar public parking if the referendum overturns the agreements. McGuire, who headed a push for the agreements after he said the town was not maintaining the lots properly, said the town is really spreading up to $500,000 over the years since 1961 until 30 years from now.

The lease stipulates that business owners will be able to give out up to 90 parking passes to their employees to use any of the planned 130 parking spaces for more than four hours. Public parking will be restricted to four hours.

Republican Town Councilor John LeTourneau, who owns Wallingford Lamp and Shade on Center Street, supports the lease agreements.

“We have to have a clean, vibrant, well-lit area to attract businesses,” he said. “How can we ever think of wooing a business when our downtown doesn’t look good? It’s our front yard.”

But Republican Town Councilor Craig Fishbein said last week that the money from the Electric Division should be put toward repairing the town-owned Wooding-Caplan property for use as a municipal parking lot.

Polling places for the referendum will be open Monday at the Lyman Hall High School Vo-Ag Center, Moran Middle School and the Wallingford Senior Center from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Wallingford Final election results as published in the Record Journal

Click on the image to enlarge

Thank you again for the support!

Wallingford Parking Lot Referendum November 14, 2011 VOTING LOCATIONS

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Thank you

I wanted to thank everyone who came out to vote yesterday, first and foremost. Whether you supported me or not, you decided it was important enough to invest the time to come out and be part of the process.

And it is very important.

Beyond that, I want to thank everyone who offered their encouragement, support and who gave me their vote.

Those votes I received, unofficially 5,542 in all, landed me in the #2 spot within my party, just 29 votes behind #1 John Sullivan and and 5th overall.

Those votes were based entirely on faith and goodwill as I have no formal prior record of service to the Town of Wallingford.

Now that the campaigning is over, I will spend the next few weeks prior to being sworn in further preparing to take office and serve the town and all her people to the best of my ability – just as I had promised prior as part of my campaign.

My first pledge now formally as a Wallingford Town Councilor (elect) will be to work hard enough to earn each of those votes I received this past November 8th.

Thank you again.

2011 Election Results from Wallingford

Click on the image to enlarge.

Winners are highlighted in yellow.

Totals at this point are unconfirmed.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

The unofficial counts from Democrat Headquarters

BOLD denotes the winner

MAYOR
Dickinson (R) 6,213
Testa (D) 3,558

TOWN COUNCIL
DEMOCRAT
Sullivan              5,571
Hettrick                      4,095
Harwood                    4,878
Zandri                  5,542
Reynolds                    4,687
Eco                      5,370

REPUBLICAN
Fishbein             5,642
LeTourneau       5,728
Parisi                  5,809
Rascati               5,270
Cervoni              5,531
Laffin                  5,195

BOARD OF EDUCATION
DEMOCRAT
Cei                      5,632
Castelli               4,985
Reynolds           4,790
Leonardo                  4,304
Ford                           4,667
Votto                   5,277

REPUBLICAN
Bachand                    4,600
Miller                   5,094
Brooder              5,094
Mansfield            5,297
Mckay                  5,237
Marrone               5,065

Election totals are coming in…

I am at headquarters and collecting totals on the fly.

If the Record Journal has them first I’ll let you know.

You can check in there via http://www.myrecordjournal.com/election/2011/wallingford/

Record Journal Voter Guide - Wallingford polling places

As published in the Record Journal, Sunday October 30, 2011

WALLINGFORD — Here is the list of polling places for the Nov. 8 election.

District 1: Pond Hill School gym, 297 Pond Hill Road.
District 2: Stevens School gym, 18 Kondracki Lane.
District 3: Moses Y. Beach School gym, 340 N. Main St.
District 4: Dag Hammarskjold Middle School gym, 106 Pond Hill Road.
District 5: Cook Hill School gym, 57 Hall Road.
District 6: Parker Farms School cafeteria, 30 Parker Farms Road.
District 7: Yalesville School cafeteria, 415 Church St. (Route 68).
District 8: Senior Center, 38 Washington St.
District 9: Rock Hill School cafeteria, 911 Durham Road.

Voter information: (203) 294-2125

From the Editorial Page of the Record Journal: Vote with confidence

As published in the Record Journal on Election Day, Tuesday November 8, 2011

Voting is Democracy’s bedrock — a truly American activity which should not be taken for granted.

Elsewhere on this planet other societies don’t have it so well. In recent Arab Spring uprisings, thousands risked lives to demonstrate in favor of ballot-based elections, rather than further remain subjects beneath despotic leaders who abuse authority and employ violence to retain power. For centuries we have enjoyed what these modern protestors fight for. Today we can celebrate their efforts, and our first-world freedoms, by exercising one of a U.S. citizen’s most important rights — voting.

At last, Election Day has dawned. Local political clamor will soon yield to results. In copious political opinion letters to the Record-Journal, readers have expressed preferences for individual candidates and thoughts on pertinent issues in oft-times unequivocal terms. But mistake not the numerous political-letter- writers as enough interested individuals to decide an election. Every vote counts, and it is your responsibility — not someone else’s — to register your opinion.

As our country continues preparations for next year’s presidential race, municipal voting comes to have its own unique flavor in comparison. People familiar with one another in the same community get to express support, or lack thereof, for local candidates who are neighbors, and not TV personalities or names in a newspaper. It’s a chance for civic leaders to see what sits well with voters — issues and allegiances come into political alignment.

Campaign season is a long haul, and even though many candidates enjoy getting out and meeting people, it’s just possible some have rung enough doorbells by now. Nevertheless, let’s not forget that extensive efforts by political hopefuls and their supporters add impetus to the fullness of Election Day’s turnout and significance. Underscore this point: voting — it’s part of a great American tradition and the exercise of a powerful right in democracy — a freedom not to be wasted or squandered.

And before exercising such rights, residents should fulfill their responsibility to make informed, confident decisions. Do research. Learn not only about candidates as community members but also where they stand on important issues. For instance: in today’s entrenched fiscal stagnation, those running for municipal office have by now expounded personal financial and economic development policies of all sorts. Citizens should identify which proposed monetary measures they believe as best suited to propel more expeditious economic recovery, and vote accordingly.

In coming days, supportive signs will swiftly dwindle from front lawns and political ads will disappear from television air time. Election Day will fade into tomorrow. But the results — candidates authorized to take office, some replacing incumbents while others gaining additional terms — will last for two or more years. Thus, we hope that all voters participating in today’s election have done reasonable, if not thorough, homework. Make that vote count — know your mind. Vote with pride.

ELECTION DAY Locations to vote in Wallingford

District 1: Pond Hill School gym, 297 Pond Hill Road.
District 2: Stevens School gym, 18 Kondracki Lane.
District 3: Moses Y. Beach School gym, 340 N. Main St.
District 4: Dag Middle School gym, 106 Pond Hill Road.
District 5: Cook Hill School gym, 57 Hall Road.
District 6: Parker Farms School cafeteria, 30 Parker Farms Road.
District 7: Yalesville School cafeteria, 415 Church St. (Route 68).
District 8: Senior Center, 38 Washington St.
District 9: Rock Hill School cafeteria, 911 Durham Road.

If you need additional information:

Registrar of Voters

45 South Main Street, Room #211
(203) 294-2125

Registrars:
Samuel Carmody
Chester Miller

http://www.town.wallingford.ct.us/Content/Registrar_of_Voters.asp

Jason Zandri Candidate for Wallingford Town Council

VOTE TODAY – TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2011

Goals as your Town Councilor:

If elected, I will listen to town residents first before I make a decision and I will execute to the best of my ability the responsibilities of the office for the good of Wallingford and her citizens.
Background:
- Born and raised in Wallingford; attended Pond Hill Elementary, Moran Middle School and Mark T. Sheehan High School
- Married father of four children; two are in the public school system
- President of the Wallingford Fireworks Fund
- Auction Manager for Wallingford’s annual MDA Party for a Cure
- Information Technology Professional - Senior Systems Engineer with 13 years experience in the field; responsible for operational support, service management, and technical planning
- Avid writer, wrote the FROM WALLINGFORD column for the Record Journal for three years through spring of 2011
- Involved with the local political scene since the late 1980s
- District 4 leader, Wallingford Democratic Town Committee

Record Journal Voter Guide - Wallingford polling places

Vinnie Testa Candidate for Mayor of Wallingford

VOTE TODAY – TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2011

About Vinnie Testa

Vinnie Testa for Mayor - http://videoalive.com/vinnietesta/
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Vinnie-Testa-for-Mayor/118934548181765
vtesta@comcast.net

Born in Wallingford; / Wallingford Public Schools;
B.S. Fairfield University;
1 son in college, 1 teaching in Washington, D.C.
Current Minority Leader, Wallingford Town Council
Wallingford Town Council – 8 years, 1 term as Vice-Chairman
Wallingford Board of Education – 8 years
Wallingford Wetlands Commission – 2 years
CCD Teacher and Lector Most Holy Trinity Church
Wallingford Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors
Child Guidance Clinic Board of Directors
Yalesville Little League Executive Board
Baseball, basketball, soccer coach, founding coach of Wallingford Lacrosse
Cub Scout Leader
Wallingford Dream Foundation (Founding member)
Wallingford Education Foundation
Golf Tournament Committee
Business Network International Development Ambassador

Modernizing Government

With 20 years experience in local government, Vinnie knows how we can save money by:

Reducing costs and creating efficiencies through the smart use of technology
Sharing services between Town and the Board of Education
Eliminating wasteful spending to ease the burden on taxpayers

Leading Economic Development and Creating Jobs

Based on 25 years of success in corporate business development, Vinnie has a specific plan for bringing new businesses to Wallingford by:

Establishing our industrial parks as a clean energy research and development hub
Recruiting new corporate taxpayers that are essential to rebuilding our diminishing grand list

Ensuring Public Safety

Restoring critical paramedic services
Strengthening our police force by retaining those we train

Providing a Great Education for Our Kids

Vinnie served on the Board of Education, helped develop the long-term strategic plan for our schools, and he teaches in the Wallingford school system. He understands the challenges we face in preparing our children for success in the 21st Century.

“I am proud of my service and commitment to our community. It would be an honor to serve you further as your mayor. It’s time we moved forward, together, to make this town we love an even better place to live and raise our families.

Sincerely,
Vinnie Testa

Monday, November 7, 2011

Tomorrow, Tuesday November 8, 2011, is Election Day

It’s not often that you get your chance to have your say, really have the opportunity to voice your mind and thoughts.

You do get an optimum chance on Election Day more so than any other time of the year.

There is no body of government that can affect you as much and that you have as much effect on as your municipal government.

Your municipal leaders regulate your ordinances, set the local budget for the town and the schools, as well as maintain and manage the tax base of the town.

If you voted in the federal election in 2008 you were one voice in 169 million registered. (About 133 million showed up to cast a vote).

86 million democrat - 55 million republican - 28 million others registered.

Of those voters there were 132,645,504 total voters out of an eligible voting age population of 212,702,354, which gives you a 62.4% participation rate.

For the elections held at the state level here in Connecticut as of 2010 the total number of registered voters is a hair over 2 million.

The largest group of registered voters in Connecticut is unaffiliated, accounting for 831,962 voters. There are 743,580 registered Democrats and 413,854 registered Republicans.

So when 73 percent of the state voters turnout, your voice is one in 1.46 million.

You as the voter in Wallingford during a municipal election are one of about 25,000 registered. During our last municipal election only 35.6 percent of the registered voters turned out.

Your voice there is one of about 8,900.

Where do you think your voice is the loudest?

Where do you think your voice is best heard among all the noise?

Wallingford is your town – get informed, get involved and VOTE on Tuesday November 8th

Wallingford Ballot for the November 8th municipal election

For the office of Mayor you may choose only one of the two candidates.

For the seats on Town Council you can vote for any nine of the twelve running. You may vote for people that are one above the other – it is for ANY nine regardless of position on the ballot.

For the seats on the Board of Education you can vote for any nine of the twelve running. You may vote for people that are one above the other – it is for ANY nine regardless of position on the ballot.

The Secretary of the State website contains additional information which will provide you with important election details.

Wallingford Democratic Candidate for Mayor Vincent Testa

About Vinnie Testa

Vinnie Testa for Mayor - http://videoalive.com/vinnietesta/

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Vinnie-Testa-for-Mayor/118934548181765

vtesta@comcast.net

Modernizing Government

With 20 years experience in local government, Vinnie knows how we can save money by:

Reducing costs and creating efficiencies through the smart use of technology

Sharing services between Town and the Board of Education

Eliminating wasteful spending to ease the burden on taxpayers

Leading Economic Development and Creating Jobs

Based on 25 years of success in corporate business development, Vinnie has a specific plan for bringing new businesses to Wallingford by:

Establishing our industrial parks as a clean energy research and development hub

Recruiting new corporate taxpayers that are essential to rebuilding our diminishing grand list

Ensuring Public Safety

Restoring critical paramedic services

Strengthening our police force by retaining those we train

Providing a Great Education for Our Kids

Sincerely,

Vinnie Testa

Wallingford’s Possible Mission (a little fun with this local election)

GoAnimate.com: Wallingford's Possible Mission by gunderstone

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Running for office has been a lot of work so I decided to have a little fun with it.

FROM WALLINGFORD – Hey kids, it’s time to show up

As originally published in the Record Journal Sunday, September 27th, 2009

It was also cross posted to my personal blog – From the Mind of Jason Zandri

The item regarding the Charter Revision vote is out of date and no longer relevant but the rest of it as timely as it ever was.

According to some research I have done recently, in the 2008 Presidential election the number of Wallingford people registered to vote aged 18 to 30 that came out and voted was about 2,800.

For people aged 60 to 72 that number was a little more than 4,000.

Both age sets encompass a span of 12 years.

In 2008, 22,000 of the nearly 26,000 registered voters in Wallingford generated an 85 percent voter turnout rate.

In the 2007 local election the number of people aged 18 to 30 that came out to vote in Wallingford was about 500.

Of the nearly 4,200 people aged 18 to 30 that were registered to vote only 500 showed up—that is a paltry 12 percent.

For people aged 60 to 72 that number was about 2,800 out of 4,700 or 60 percent.

When we talk about the impact for better or worse of the largest voting block the discussion always focuses around the older folks but it is not just because they are larger in size (as they are so by only about 500 voters) but rather due to the fact that they show up in greater numbers. In order to get to 2,800 voters showing up in a voter block for the 2007 local election you have to include everyone aged 18 to 47 — a bracket of 29 years.

That is a total of 11,400 registered voters to yield the same 2,800 turnouts.

Let me say it again— you have to leverage 11,400 registered voters from the 18 to 47 demographic to get the same turn out number of people aged 60 to 72 where 2,800 out of 4,700 showed up.

2,800 people aged 60 to 72 out of 4,700 is 60 percent.

2,800 people aged 18 to 47 out of 11,400 is 25 percent.

I understand that the numbers in total drop below 50 percent for local elections; in 2007 voter turnout was 46 percent.

The reason for this is mainly due to the younger generation of people not showing up.

This is especially concerning tome as a parent of four little children. At 40 years old I am in with a group of people that seem not to be willing to take control of their own destiny for themselves or their families.

Say whatever you want about how you can’t change things, politics is all dirty and it caters only to this group or that group or whatever— it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy when you don’t show up to vote.

I feel that local elections impact you more than any other election you could participate in. All the voters are from Wallingford, there is no other election that you could have a greater impact on by just voting.

In a Presidential election you are casting your important vote among millions of others; in Wallingford it is one vote of about 12,000 or so.

Your locally elected officials directly affect everything from what you are charged in taxes by way of the budget and what allocations get handed off to support the schools that your children are attending and so on. They provide the platform and funding for or removing it from all the local services you may use.

There are many changes offered to the voters in the 2009 election from the incumbents that are running for office again to all the newcomers throwing their hats into the ring.

There are changes being proposed to the Town Charter. This document dictates the guidelines of how elected officials are to discharge their duties in service to you and the town and it is the first time any changes are being offered in 18 years.

You as a voter directly get your say as you get the opportunity to vote “yes” or “no” to each of the proposed changes.

Democracy at its best— all you need to do is show up.

Wallingford Politico

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Monday, November 14, 2011

WALLINGFORD NOTICE OF REFERENDUM

OFFICIAL BALLOT Referendum WALLINGFORD, Connecticut November 14, 2011

Wallingford to hold referendum on lease agreements Monday

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Wallingford Final election results as published in the Record Journal

Wallingford Parking Lot Referendum November 14, 2011 VOTING LOCATIONS

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Thank you

2011 Election Results from Wallingford

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

The unofficial counts from Democrat Headquarters

Election totals are coming in…

Record Journal Voter Guide - Wallingford polling places

From the Editorial Page of the Record Journal: Vote with confidence

ELECTION DAY Locations to vote in Wallingford

Jason Zandri Candidate for Wallingford Town Council

Record Journal Voter Guide - Wallingford polling places

Vinnie Testa Candidate for Mayor of Wallingford

Monday, November 7, 2011

Tomorrow, Tuesday November 8, 2011, is Election Day

Wallingford Ballot for the November 8th municipal election

Wallingford Democratic Candidate for Mayor Vincent Testa

Wallingford’s Possible Mission (a little fun with this local election)

FROM WALLINGFORD – Hey kids, it’s time to show up