Well, it finally happened Cheshire. Today I sent in the application (if you can call it that,) which will allow people to write me in for the Cheshire Town Council.

You know, I can’t believe it, but right after I posted this article I could swear I heard ambulance sirens all over town!!!

I honestly do not know how many people will write in my name. But if you are a regular reader to my site, you know what I stand for: OPEN and HONEST GOVERNMENT. I dedicated most of my life to this principle. I made a living defending it and ensuring it when I was a member of the press.

I believe in peoples’ rights–ALL people. I believe even the humblest of persons has a voice and has a right to be heard and they will if I am on the Town Council. I don’t care who you are or what you think of me, I will listen to you.

The Town of Cheshire is my investment and it also is yours. Every resident needs to get involved. Make time. Speak out, write letters, call your Town Council representative.

I believe in the Constitution of the United States and I hold each article to my heart. My platform:

Replace the bubble on the pool within the next year with a permanent structure as what was done in Milford. The Milford Community Pool has a polycarbonate glass structure that opens at the top and on all four sides in the summer. The structure can be closed entirely in the winter making for an all season pool. The “greenhouse” setup of this structure, allows for natural heating of the pool water, and as you know, that is the biggest expense the Cheshire Community Pool incurs.

Turn over the entire operation of the Pool to the Cheshire YMCA. In other words, privatize the ownership. The Southington Y operates in the black every year. Operate the pool as a business. Stop this “outside” nonsense and welcome all people.

Renew the Senior and Disabled Tax Freeze. Many people in this town, especially the middle class, feel they are being squeezed out by rising home prices and taxes. They need to feel their voices are not falling on deaf ears. We need to keep a foundation in this town. By that I mean the people who have lived here most of their lives, who have put their faith in Cheshire, who have invested in this town by making Cheshire their lifelong home.

Expand the powers of the Public Safety Commission to not only include the Police Department, but also the Fire Department as well. I strongly believe in government by the people. We have a democracy in this country. Our government was set up by our forefathers to have the PEOPLE be the check and balance against government.

It is not fair and right to have one or two people making decisions about the Police Department. And believe me, you will NOT hear any other candidate speak as openly about this issue as myself. You cannot tell me that when promotion time comes, the right decisions are always being made.

A few years ago, there was a letter to the editor from the family of a Cheshire Police officer expressing concern that their family member was not promoted. Now, I am NOT saying a police commission is perfect, it is not. Nothing human is perfect. But I would think one would stand a much better chance of moving up in the department if this decision was put into the hands of several people instead of one or two, meeting behind closed doors if you will, instead of in the public where these decisions belong.

The members of the Public Safety Commission, which already meet, are quite capable of taking on this task. They need the Town Council to make a decision and stop leaving them hanging in mid-air. So it is not another layer of government, as some of our Town Council members have indicated. The key is in the ignition—START IT UP!!

The Cheshire Town Council needs to take charge of this town now! The Town Council may be the “Board of Directors” as one ex-Town Council member once said, but the people are the stockholders. The Town Council needs to demand they be informed of every issue-when it occurs, not several days or weeks down the road as was the case with the Meningitis situation at the Community Pool a year and a half ago, and the recent arrest of the Cheshire Officer.

I will push for these changes as I have been doing behind the scene for years. If you don’t believe me, just ask anyone in the Town Managers Office, the Public Works Department and even the Police Department. I.E. the Police Chief open house–thank me for that effort also: The monthly updates of the police reports–the signs around Cheshire that say “Please Drive Slowly-We Love Our Children…the paving of some roads-installation of some sidewalks. I have constantly contacted the Town Government to make sure our infrastructure is updated and safe; The snack bar at the pool: I will be running my show which aired on Cox Channel 15 public access from 2005, in which I speak with my husband, Derf, about a snack bar at the pool. This is now a reality.

I also believe in fair taxation, not overtaxing, spending money where needed and spending it wisely.

As far as education: I am PRO EDUCATION. I have put four children through the Cheshire School system, some more smoothly than others, but anyone who knows me, knows that I cannot think of any better way to spend money than on education.

But even there, we must make sure our spending priorities are straight. We must have the BEST EQUIPMENT, BOOKS and RESOURCES and ALSO TEACHERS. We have to compete with wealthy Fairfield County towns such as Easton, Weston, Wilton and Redding, i.e. Region 9. Go look at their CAPT and SAT scores.

Several years ago, my husband and I also got the library to extend the rental times on videotapes. I support the library and have spoken publicly in their favor. This is the most important building in town and it should lack for nothing!!!

Well, that is all for now.  As a friend said to me when I told her of my decision:

“You could be Cheshire’s savior. Then again, you could be its anti-Christ.”!!!

Now take your nitro-glycerin pills and go to bed!!

UPDATE UPDATE:

Apparently tonight there was a Planning and Zoning public hearing. It is too bad hardly ANYONE knew about it!! This has GOT TO STOP AND I WILL STOP IT.  Is this town going to go “through the motions” or are they sincerely going to listen to the public?

Information has to be readily put out to the public on a consistent basis. This town is fortunate enough to have the resouces to have their own public access channel–Channel 14–The Town Goverment Channel.

A list of upcoming meetings–should be on the air ALL theTIME. It is too confusing for people to keep reading: this commission meets the second and fourth Monday of the month, or that committee meets every third Wednesday.

PUT THE DATES AND TIME AND LOCATIONS OF THE MEETINGS ON THE TV!!

As you know, I am scheduled to meet with the owner of the Herald later today. I will be discussing this very issue. I will let you know what happens. I hope I don’t end up in the slammer!! ONLY KIDDING!!!