Spreading The Wealth Among Themselves

Today's Republican-American finally reported what many of us in political circles have known for several months now, the Independents main goal in the 2008 legislative elections was to line their own pockets. ("Independents Shared Wealth" - Penelope Overton)

I first reported on this issue back on 12/3, laying out how much money Larry DePillo and Mike Telesca received from Alderman Frank Burgio's campaign. (True Colors Of Independents - Green) But today's newspaper article shows that the self-serving goes much further then originally realized.

Mr. DePillo alone received a total $11,000 from the campaigns of Aldermen Burgio, Booker, and Denze. This is almost 10% of the $125,000 that the state provided for the three campaigns. Mr. Telesca also received a total of $6,000 from the three campaigns. That is a grand total of $17,000 out of $125,000 that went directly into the pockets of the men who founded the Independent party.

If this wasn't galling enough it was reported that the campaigns in question paid their poll standing crew for their efforts on election. Although none of this is illegal, the fact that most of these poll workers were family members of the candidates stinks worse then the sewage plant in the South End.

The men of the Independent Party try to tell us time and time again that they are looking out for the interests of the taxpayers of Waterbury, but all I see is the Independents looking out for the Independents.