Shape Up Or Ship Out

Last night the Waterbury Board of Education took a very important step in the fight to improve the city's reputation. They reminded everyone that the most important word in the phrase "student-athlete" is student. While this is not a revolutionary viewpoint in the world of High-School sports, it is about time that the city got on board with the colleges and the rest of America and forced our students to change.

To bring about this change the board last night instituted a new rule for the 2007-08 academic year. This rule requires students to have a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) when they enter a sport. In Waterbury a 1.0 is any grade between a 60 and 69, and a 2.0 is defined as any grade between a 70 and 79. Furthermore, grades of 80 to 89 are worth a 3.0, while grades of 90 to 100 earn you a 4.0. Therefore a student must be doing C work or better in nearly all of their classes to participate in sports.

While the coach of the Crosby Boy's Basketball team was vocally opposed to this measure I feel that it provides our students with many more benefits then people realize. Right now the school system is fighting to change the reputation of Waterbury athletes from both within and without. Within the school system the athletes can develop a reputation that they are superior to their school mates. They can feel that because they can run, jump, or shoot a ball, that they don't need to study. Despite the recent 15 game suspension of Carmello Anthony after this past weekend's Knicks-Nuggets fight, students can act as if their ability on the field is all that matters.

This has led to a diminishing of our reputation outside of the city. Many of our student-athletes leave the school system unprepared for college. They have spent so much time on the field or court instead of in their books, that they do not understand the basic skills to survive beyond athletics. By forcing the students to focus on both books and balls, we can avoid the further embarrassment of seeing our students sent off to a year of prep-school before they have any chance of going to college. As an example, can anyone name me two players in the past ten years that have left Waterbury and made a name for themselves in college?

The student-athletes of Waterbury need to adjust their priorities, and this is just how to do it. The young men and women who where Crosby blue or Wilby green need to remember that how they work their brains is as important as how they work their bodies. Then, even if they never play in the NBA or NFL, they will have the opportunity for a better life.

Half-Measures are NOT an option.

This speech was delivered before the Waterbury Board of Aldermen on December 11, 2006

Members of the Board of Aldermen, Mr. Mayor, my fellow citizens, tonight is a night of great importance here in Waterbury. Tonight the members of this board will vote to either approve or reject a short list of improvements to City Hall that will allow the building to remain open. As much as I love this grand building, I am urging the board to soundly reject these stopgap measures.

The measures being presented tonight are nothing more then a quick fix that looks cheap on paper, but will cost the city a lot of money in the long run. The fact that these improvements are necessary is not in dispute. What is in dispute, I feel, is whether or not these are the only improvements that should be undertaken.

City Hall is in bad shape, on this we can all agree. Years of neglect by mayors from both parties have left this majestic building a shambles. If Cass Gilbert and Henry Chase could see what has become of the city center that they envisioned almost ninety years ago, they would surely be spinning in their graves. We cannot, however, simply blame the mistakes of the past for the situation of the present, regardless of how easy it is to pass the buck backwards in time. What is needed now is action, decisive and sweeping action, to completely, and conclusively, correct the years of neglect that City Hall has suffered.

That need for conclusive action is exactly why I urge the board to reject tonight’s measures. They are nothing more then a band-aid in place of a much-needed tourniquet. Fixing these few critical fire code violations will certainly make the fire department happy, and the citizens happy, but only for a time. Eventually we will all have to revisit the problems on the second, third and fourth floors, only now they will have a larger price tag due to further weathering and inflation. And while the city waits, we waste money on renting space from private landlords to keep the government of Waterbury functional. This is not the way to run a city.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Board, I know that you appreciate the weight of the situation before us. It is evident in the informational meeting you had on Thursday, and in the repeated articles in the Republican-American where members of this board have shown their displeasure at any quick fixes. As we all know, however, the question of City Hall does not end tonight. If the board acts as I hope it will, and votes down this plan, Waterbury will need to consider what should be done to this building next. The newspaper has reported several options that have been put before the board, ranging from complete renovation, to the sale of the building to a private owner. Though you are not voting on these options tonight, I feel that it is important for you to know what the citizens of Waterbury expect of you, our elected Aldermen.

I feel that City Hall must be restored completely and properly. There is no room in such a historic building for half-measures and cutting corners. This is a building that deserves the grandeur that history has endowed it with. This is a building that should inspire wonder and reverence for future generations. This is a building to be treasured and cherished.

This is not a building that should be torn down. This is not a building that should be sold off and converted into something else. This is our City Hall. Not just for the city of Waterbury, but for the people of Waterbury. After all, the city is just lines on a map. What gives Waterbury its character, its essence, its very life are the people who make it up. The people who have the right to see their entire city government housed in one complex, not scattered throughout downtown. The people who have the right to see this building kept in the hands of the city and restored to glory.

Others here tonight will appeal to your sense of history, will provide you with facts and anecdotes regarding why this building should be properly restored. I offer no such numbers, or lessons. Members of the board, all I offer you tonight is an appeal to your sense of what is right for the city of Waterbury, and what this city deserves. This city, these people deserve the complete restoration of their building to the grandeur and status it once held in history. Nothing less will do.

A Call To Arms (sort of)

Now is the time for the citizens of Waterbury who care about what happens to City Hall and the downtown area to step forward and be counted. Now is the time for words to give power to meaning, and people to give power to their words. Now is the time for people to show just how much power a building has in the city of Waterbury.

This week is of vital importance to the future of City Hall, and with it the entire Grand Street corridor. On Thursday night, December 7th, the Board of Aldermen will hold an informational meeting to discuss just what should happen now that the original bonding package has been defeated in referendum. In this package four options are being discussed as potential paths of action. These packages are:

1. Tear down City Hall and rebuild.
2. Sell City Hall to the highest bidder with the best plan.
3. Provide the building with a quick fix to prevent closure by the Fire Marshall.
4. Completely repair and restore the building.

Once these plans have been discussed fully, the Board will meet again on Monday the 11th to vote on which package to accept. Each plan has already gotten some ink in the local paper, and the meeting on the 7th will give the citizens of Waterbury figure out just what each plan will cost. This cost has to be considered not only as an issue of dollars and cents, but also in terms of reputation and history.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I have made no secret just what my opinions are. I feel, however, that I can no longer be a lone voice in the wilderness of negativity and misinformation. Those of you who support City Hall must stand with me next Monday night. We must stand together and show the Board of Aldermen, the city, and the detractors of these renovation plans just where we stand. We must show everyone that City Hall is to important to us to ignore. That we will not be brushed off by people who refuse to defend their ideas. That we will be heard and we will stand for what is right for the city of Waterbury and the beautiful building on Grand Street.

Now is the time to speak. Now is the time to be heard. Now is the time to act.

Fighting To Save City Hall

This speech was given before the Waterbury Board of Aldermen on November 20, 2006

The question of what to do with the grand building that we are now standing in cannot be concluded with the vote on November 7. City Hall is too important as a governmental center and a historical icon to be left in limbo any longer.

I understand completely that on the 7th the citizens of Waterbury that voted voiced their opinion regarding the $48 million bonding package that the city put forward. However, I feel that this decision only opens the door to more questions.

The most prominent question in my mind is why the effort to pass this bonding package was unsuccessful. I will be blunt in my opinion, I have heard from many of my fellow citizens that they either voted against this project, or did not vote at all on the question, because they felt that there was a lack of information. While I understand that the 12 members of this board who voted yes made an informed decision to support this plan, the information that you were presented with was not put before the citizens.

When I walked into the voting booth two weeks ago I did so with the understanding of just what this project meant to the city, and the faith that the 12 members of this board were doing what was best for the city. Unfortunately not all of the residents of Waterbury share the faith and confidence in the city government that I do. That means that if the members of this city’s government want this building to be properly repaired and restored they need to make sure that the public understands just what is at stake.

This building is too important to the history and culture of the city to let it rot. The fact that this city is the home to five buildings designed by the famed architect Cass Gilbert should be a mark of pride for Waterbury. The marble and engraving that is evident all around us shows the pride and grandeur that this building held when it was opened over 90 years ago. With the required work, this building can hold the same majesty that it had in the past.

I understand all to well that this renovation and restoration project will not be cheap. Between the marble that has to be repaired and replaced, to the water damage that was caused by those despicable vandals back in 2005, there is a lot of work that needs to be done. However, what the citizens of Waterbury and members of this board need to remember are the intangibles, such as history, legacy, and reputation.

I have already discussed the historical aspects of the building. With history, however, comes legacy. The legacy of how Waterbury will be remembered throughout history, as well as how the past of Waterbury is remembered in the present day. As not only a resident of Waterbury, but also a member of Main Street Waterbury, I have seen first hand just how much the history of Waterbury means to those of us who care. Those of us involved in the Main Street organization do not want the legacy of Waterbury to be one of neglect and abandonment. The legacy of Waterbury should be written in the buildings that the city works to maintain and preserve. In its dedication and reverence for those that came before us as well as a historic sense of duty to those who will come after us.

In conclusion, how this issue is handled will have a lasting impact in the public reputation of this board. While this grand building sits in limbo the city wastes money on renting offices from private landlords. It also gives off the impression that the sins of the past are being continued, that the city does not care for its historical buildings. I want to believe with all my heart that this reputation is unfounded. But to destroy those perceptions once and for all this board needs to act and act soon. If the $48 million package isn’t good for the citizens of Waterbury, we need to find one that is, and fast. Once the full and correct information has been put forward for the public to inspect, and misinformation can no longer be spread by a vocal minority, all interested parties can then publicize the details of the new bonding package. When that is done, we need to all make sure, every one of us who cares for this building, that the bonding issue passes.

BEYOND DESPICABLE

Des-pi-ca-ble
-adjective
deserving to be despised; contemptible

Never was there a word more appropriate to describe the tone taken by the Democratic candidate in Connecticut's 16th District State Senate race, Dave Zoni. In what can only be described as a desperate and depraved attempt to garner votes, a mailer was sent out to the people of the 16th district, which is so disgusting that it turns the stomach of anyone with a soul.

The mailer that I am referring to uses half-truths and flat-out lies to distort the work of the Republican candidate, Mr. Sam Caliguiri, during one of Waterbury's darkest hours. During the month of August, 2001, Mr. Caliguiri was acting as mayor of the City of Waterbury after the previous mayor had been arrested on sex crimes involving two very young girls. While the former mayor was sitting in jail (where he will, fortunately, stay until somewhere around 2038) Mr. Caliguiri managed to formulate a plan that saved the citizens of Waterbury money and, more importantly, further embarrassment.

This deal is the main focus of this sick and twisted mailer. Before this deal was struck, the former Mayor could have, in theory, posted bail and walked right back into City Hall to attempt to resume his duties. The former Mayor would have also continued to receive his full salary and benefits while sitting in prison, and any attempt to remove him from office would have involved a long, and expensive impeachment trial. This last part is especially important because, while the actions of this former Mayor were beyond comprehension or redemption, they were sadly not impeachable offenses because they were not a direct result of his being Mayor. Therefore, any attempt to remove him would have been a further cost and embarrassment to the city.

Mr. Caliguiri found a way, however, to keep all of these worst-case scenarios from coming to pass. By passing the resolution in question Mr. Caliguiri made certain that:

1-The former Mayor would only receive 1/2 his salary.

2-For the sake of the former Mayor's wife and children, they would continue to receive medical benefits.

3-The former Mayor would NOT be able to return to office.

4-Mr. Caliguiri would receive the other 1/2 of the Mayor's salary for performing his duties as Acting Mayor.

5-Mr. Caliguiri would receive NO MEDICAL BENEFITS during this 5 month period.

The result of this deal was to ensure that the city would not be forced to spend any more money in its already strapped budget, and it would avoid the disgrace of having the former Mayor put back in the media spotlight.

While it is easy to argue the benefits of this particular deal, there is no justification for the mailer that Mr. Zoni dragged out of the mud and slime. The image of two young girls in poses suggesting fear and abuse, for the mere purpose of political gain is an act of exploitation that borders on the pornographic. The opponents claim that these pictures were stock pictures, and not supposed to be the focus of the ad, are an obvious scramble for damage control. Mr. Zoni crossed a line with this particular ad, and he knows it.

Another issue of disgust with the mailer is the images of the girls used. As I mentioned before, the exploitation of these pictures for political gain is nearly pornographic, furthermore, the images chosen show exactly what Mr. Zoni’s intent was. The choice of two young white girls in mailers going to predominately white areas of Waterbury, Wolcott, Southington, and Cheshire, are a blatant and reprehensible attempt to tug on the heartstrings of voters. One would almost be led to assume that Mr. Zoni does not believe that the residents in his district would care as much about the actual victims, who were black. That particular mentality is not only morally bankrupt, but also almost racist.

Finally, there is the simple fact that most of the facts in Mr. Zoni’s mailer are just plain wrong. The information in the ad, as well as in the press release defending the use of this mailer, is so full of misinformation that any fact checker working for any newspaper would toss the article in the trash.

In conclusion, this mailer shows just what character of man the Democrats have put forward in the 16th State Senate race. Mr. Zoni is willing to do anything to get himself elected. He is willing to twist the truth to serve his purposes, and sink to lows that even non-political citizens find repugnant. He is beyond contempt, he is beyond electing, he is almost beyond redemption himself.

Mr. Zoni, to quote the classic cartoon:

YOU’RE DESPICABLE

The Cost Of Delay

These days in Waterbury it seems all the rage to talk about getting tough on a variety of issues. Ranging from the test scores of our students on the CMT and CAPT, to concerns of nepotism, from blight, to tax collection. Waterbury is always trying to ensure that it presents a wonderful image to the surrounding towns, an image of a city working hard to regain its prestige and respect in the region. Almost, always you will find that I am in support of these efforts when they are implemented properly. I would love to see our students listed as the top students in the state, hear that so many new businesses want to open in our downtown area that they have to be turned away for lack of space, or read about how the Brass City’s reputation shines throughout New England. You may say I’m guilty of a bit of hyperbole, but as a life long resident, one has to keep hold of their dreams.

Despite all of these dreams I still find cause for concern when I feel that the city is not being tough enough on a particular issue. In this particular post I am addressing the deafening silence from CL&P regarding the incidents that have occurred in the downtown area. The underground explosion back on the 6 of October could be considered an unfortunate accident, a disaster, or a miracle, depending on whom you ask. Either way it needs to serve as a two-ton wake up call to the city of Waterbury and the state.

The events of Friday night are being officially considered an unfortunate, isolated, incident by the folks at CL&P who are presenting, in the news paper at least, the image that these events are the result of a few, minor defects in the system, and are really nothing to worry about. While I appreciate the company’s optimism, I find it hare to swallow when you consider that there have been ten of these minor incidents in the past five years, and 3 since the rains of this June 2. These hardly sound like isolated incidents. Furthermore we cannot forget that after an incident in late August, CL&P commented that it would take “millions and millions” to fully restore the city’s power grid.

To the people who live, work, and want to be able to play in the downtown area, the events of October 6 rank somewhere between completely and totally unacceptable. The images of a packed Palace Theatre being evacuated and almost 3,000 visitors being sent on their way only tarnishes the reputation of the downtown area. Furthermore, when establishments such as the John Bale Book Store are holding evening events for a younger crowd, such as the Nintendo night they were running on the 6, the owners must be concerned about what is going to happen next time. The merchants of the downtown area and the volunteers of Main Street Waterbury are working too hard to bring people downtown to have them be scared away by a problem that is nothing new to the power company.

Personally, I consider the events of that fateful night a miracle in Waterbury’s history. Leavenworth Street is not a crowded section of the downtown area usually, but when the Palace has a show, you can usually count on it to be busy. Add in the fact that it was a Friday night, and I’m sure the crowd was even larger, though I wasn’t there myself. When I think of the people that were, and could have been, in the area when that manhole cover went airborne, I find myself pleasantly amazed that no one was injured. If that cover had landed on anyone, they would have been killed on the spot, and if the fire had spread to the buildings, the damage could have been extensive.

I think that the last point I make on this topic is the most important one. So far the city has been lucky, if not flat out blessed in these incidents. No one has been killed, no buildings have been destroyed, and there has only been the loss of one motor vehicle. So far. Now that the downtown area is returning we have to be much more concerned about the risks posed by these defective spots in the power grid. If there was to be an incident on East Main Street at the wrong time, the effects could be disastrous. Not only is there the concern that the Palace theatre could be damaged, after all of the time and money spent on its restoration, but there is also concern raised by the proximity of both UCONN and the Waterbury Arts Magnet School If the grid was to suffer another such incident at 3 PM, when you have students as young as 12 heading for home, and in harms way, the possibilities are too frightening to consider.

This is why the city needs to get tough with CL&P about this problem and soon. The silence from the power company since Thursday’s article does not comfort this writer. We as citizens need to make sure that this problem is being addressed properly and quickly. For if the unthinkable does happen, then we will find that the cost of delay will not fit into the phrase “millions and millions”.

No Room To Talk

Sometimes it is just amazing to see the arrogance of some members of the Waterbury political scene. Back on Monday, Board of Education member John Theriault made a definite point of criticizing a budget increase in the plan to build three new K-8 schools in the city of Waterbury. This plan was approved unanimously back on September 18 by the Board of Education members that were in attendance. Mr. Theriault was not in attendance that night. After that meeting I made a point of applauding the Board of Education for moving forward on such a vital project. (See “Where The Past And Future Meet”)

What makes this particular tirade by Commissioner Theriault such a travesty is that he would be the one member of the Board of Education that a casual observer would expect to be most supportive of this plan. Commissioner Theriault was a teacher and principal in the Waterbury school system for many years, including several years as the principal of Gilmartin elementary school. As you can read in the earlier post, Gilmartin is one school that is up for replacement in this current plan.

Anyone who has spent time at Gilmartin school knows that the complex is comprised mostly of portable school buildings, that were never designed to be used for more then 10 years. Gilmartin has existed in this state for nearly 30 years. As with every elementary school in the city, Gilmartin is also overcrowded. As someone who served as the principal of this school, who is expected to know just what a school such as Gilmartin needs, you expect Commissioner Theriault to fully support this plan.

And yet, sadly but not surprisingly, Commissioner Theriault is causing trouble. He claimed in an interview with the Waterbury Republican-American that,

I think this is the beginning of an abyss, a bottomless pit, and we're going to throw in money and money and money…I feel I've been deceived, and the board has been deceived. We should have known about this.

This quote alone invites a wide range of criticism.

The most obvious issue with this quote is that if Commissioner Theriault felt that he was at risk of being deceived, why did he miss the meeting on September 18? This was not a special meeting that was not on the Board Schedule, which was announced back in January. So why then, if he was so concerned, did he miss this meeting?

Secondly, Commissioner Theriault made several comments that suggested this increase in cost was withheld from the Board of Education until the last minute. While the newspaper reports that the Board of Education found out about the increase about one hour before the September 18 meeting, which Commissioner Theriault missed, considering the locations that were up for vote, the increase should not have been a surprise.

The original plan did not hide the fact that the cost estimates were based on using city owned land as sites for the new schools. This land would not have cost the city anything in terms of purchasing the land, or moving the current residents to new housing. Furthermore, if the city already owned the land, the cost of cleaning and preparing the site for construction would have been greatly reduced.

While the increase in cost is unfortunate, it is not cause to make such a scene. When one adds to this list the fact that Commissioner Theriault is the only public official to complain about the current plan, his motives come into focus. It is my personal opinion that Commissioner Theriault has forgotten his roots in the Waterbury school system, and is trying to enjoy the focus of the media as long as possible. The best thing that the city and its officials can do to Commissioner Theriault is to ignore him. Then, just maybe, he will stop spouting his message of negativity and his radical conspiracy theories, and finally take his seat and quiet down.

Politics of Arrogance

Recently I've been amazed by the sheer arrogance and sense of self righteousness shown by some members of the Waterbury Board of Alderman. By refusing to meet with the mayor of Prospect, the Board of Aldermen is presenting the region with an attitude of superiority that they truly do not deserve. While I can understand some of the reasons that the Aldermen present for this attitude, I find it completely inexcusable.

This particular situation arose several months ago when a developer decided to build a sizable complex on the Prospect side of Scott Rd. This complex is intended for the "active adult" crowd of 55+, and was planned to have a connection to Waterbury's sewer system. It is this connection that has caused the problems.

Several years ago the City of Waterbury struck a deal with a different developer to let a medical office building connect to the city sewer system, in exchange for a promise of revenue from an intended elderly care facility that was to be built on the premises. Those particular plans fell through however, when the developer went bankrupt and the housing units were never built. As a result the Town of Prospect would up with a connection to the Waterbury sewers that cost them much less then it should have.

This situation, though, had nothing to do with the administration of the Town of Prospect. Mayor Chatfield has managed Prospect admirably for well over 25 years. At no point has he ever been accused of trying to lead the City of Waterbury, or the town that he serves astray.

Now, however, the City is approaching a similar situation with a much larger measure of trepidation. Instead of using expected tax revenue to pay for the sewer connection the city is demanding an up-front fee of $2750 per unit. While this is within the city's rights the developer has made a counter offer of $2100 per unit to cover the cost of the connection. It is at this point that the arrogance of some members has reared its ugly head.

Last week Mayor Chatfield tried to set up a meeting with the Democratic Caucus of the Board of Aldermen, only to be flatly turned away. While one can admire the Aldermen for wanting to stick to their guns and make sure the city gets what it deserves, it seems amazingly rude to brush off the sitting mayor of a neighboring town in such a manner. And tonight the Aldermen were expected to vote to approve the $2750 per-unit connection fee, with no input from the town of Prospect as to when, and how that difference is to be paid off.

When you look at the finances of this situation it is pretty simple. The projected property taxes for Prospect will easily cover the remainder of the connection charge, but it isn't about the money. When a respected member of the surrounding community approaches you hoping to discuss options, and you turn him away with such a small measure of courtesy, it does not help your standing in the region. Considering how hard Waterbury is working to change its image, it's disappointing to see so blatantly where the city gets its bad reputation from.

Where The Past And Future Meet

This week the Waterbury Board of Education took a major step in bringing the school system into the 21st century. The local school system has been overcrowded for years, and now the plan to build three new K-8 neighborhood schools is getting off the ground. When this project is completed it will mark the first phase of an extensive reworking of the Waterbury schools to bring our students to the level many believe they can reach.

This project has not been without it troubles, however. When the proposal was first unveiled a small group of dissenters attempted to stop the construction from even getting started. During the 2004 election cycle, these dissenters, led by Independent Party members Larry DePillo and Mike Telesca, organized a petition to have the bonding for this necessary project put as a referendum question on the November ballot. Due to the efforts of a few key members of the Board of Education, as well as the intervention of a few determined citizens, the issue passed by a considerable margin.

The history of this project is not what we should be focusing on, however. What deserves our attention is the school boards' choice of location for these three new schools. These locations allow the city to revitalize areas that have lagged economically, and to honor the memories of what once was.

By choosing to place one of the three schools on North Main Street, the city is focusing on the future of a particular neighborhood. The section of land that is outlined in this decision does not contain many single families homes, and does not currently present a welcoming view to an outsider. By filling this area with the sound of young children laughing and playing and learning, Waterbury can harness and celebrate its future, and through this celebration, foster economic development and growth in this region.

The choice to renovate and refit the old Duggan School shows that the Board of Education still has respect for the historical buildings of Waterbury. Duggan's famous clock tower, and hidden old swimming pool are examples of the amazing work that went into constructing the over 100 year old building. While I am well aware that it will be impossible to save a majority of the building, the clock tower and the swimming pool must be protected. It would be a shame to have the city raze such a recognizable part of the Brooklyn neighborhood, without making every effort to protect it.

Finally the decision to place the third school near the site of Gilmartin is one of simple common sense. The Gilmartin School was never designed to be used for over 30 years. It was originally intended to be a solution to what was thought to be a temporary overcrowding issue. By building on the 10-acre site that is already available, the city can give the students of that neighborhood a school they deserve.

It was recently reported that the cost of acquiring and cleaning the land necessary for this project would cost nearly $8 million, when the original plan only budgeted $1.5 million. I am concerned that this jump in figures will provoke another call from the perpetual dissenters, claiming corruption, fraud, and waste. The citizens of Waterbury cannot let this small group of determined naysayers derail such a vital project. If the cost of cleanup becomes an issue on the local stage, I feel that the Board of Education and Mayor's office should receive our full support. The future of Waterbury, and the future of Waterbury's students are too important to let such an opportunity slip by.

Canidates Worth Supporting

(This letter was submitted to the Waterbury Republican American and run on September 9, 2006. This is the original letter.)

Now that the calendar has turned to September the citizens of Waterbury prepare for another round of elections to the Connecticut General Assembly. This election year holds special opportunity for the citizens of Waterbury as we have an open Senate seat and two strong challenges in the House of Representatives. Sam Caligiuri's run for the sixteenth district state senate is well documented and well supported. As a long time Waterbury resident, former Alderman and past acting Mayor Sam will serve the district with honor and integrity.

Equally important, but less publicized, are the campaigns of Rodney Parker for the seventy-second district and Lisa Velez for the seventy-fifth representative district. What makes these campaigns so important to the city of Waterbury is that they not only provide the citizens with the opportunity to send new faces and new ideas to Hartford, but also shows the regrowth of the Waterbury Republican party. Over the past five years the Republican Party in Waterbury has been rebuilding and recovering from mistakes of the past. Mr. Parker and Ms. Velez are prime examples of the new direction that the party has taken.

Mr. Parker is a long time resident of the city of Waterbury, and has served the state for nearly twenty years while working in the department of corrections. He is a member of the Lion's club and the Masons, a past two term Commissioner of the Waterbury Board of Education and he has also been a fixture of support at Wilby High School girl's basketball games. His record of involvement with the city is one of the reasons I feel he will serve the seventy-second district well in the legislature.

Another worthy candidate to the State Legislature is Ms. Lisa Velez, for the seventy-fifth district. Ms. Velez has been faithfully representing the citizens of Brooklyn for years as president of the Neighborhood Association. Through her dedication to her neighbors she has shown that she will be a vocal and visible supporter of the city of Waterbury, unlike the current representative. Her experience in helping her constituents, as well as her ability to speak the language of the legislature make her a very worthy candidate.

These three candidates have come to represent the change and rebirth of the Waterbury Republican Party. The addition of these fine citizens to the team working with Rep. Anthony D'Amelio and Rep. Selim Noujaim would serve Waterbury well. Representing the full range of Waterbury's extensive cultural tradition they all share the same dedication, integrity, and determination to serve the citizen's of Waterbury in Hartford. Mr. Caligiuri, Mr. Parker and Ms. Velez are all well respected, knowledgeable individuals that are prepared to join the leaders of Connecticut and the legislature for all the citizens of Waterbury. That is why I feel all three new candidates and our two incumbent state representatives deserve our support and our votes on November 07, 2006.