What's the deal with this primary for Probate Judge? Have you ever seen such energy put into an election campaign (Oops - I mean other than this spring's budget referendum)? Why are New Milford Republicans putting so much energy behind Judge Marty? Who stands to lose here - probate should be pretty simple, right? Would the losers be the people of New Milford? Or a privileged few who might benefit from having a buddy on the bench? (What - me cynical? Nah.)
The Elephants have been working on electing Marty since the beginning of the year. There were plenty of meetings at a Town Councilman's private office, multiple fundraisers, and meet & greets covered by the press (if you can call the Spectrum "press"). There was even a last minute dirty trick by local leader Rog Szendy. Yet, Marty lost the endorsement at the local nominating convention - he only had the support of the New Milford delegates. Apparently the other town delegations were pissed off at Szendy's dirty politicking, and they all supported William DeFeo of New Fairfield. Good job, Rog.
This election was deemed "so important" by the local Elephants that Board of Ed member Lynette Rigdon skipped her BOE obligation (the Education Connection Board of Directors Meeting) in order to be at the nominating convention. Yep - she deemed attending a local probate nominating convention more important than carrying out her duties as an elected member of the BOE. But, worse than that, she didn't want to admit to the public why she missed the meeting. In the minutes of the May 11, 2010, BOE meeting, "Ms. Rigdon said she was unable to get to the last meeting..." Pretty pathetic. But, then again, it shows the importance these clowns have put on this minor election. Still confused? Me too.
The Mayor even got her boyfriend, State Rep. Clark Chapin, to write a letter to the local rags endorsing Marty. Why would he suddenly publicly endorse a candidate - he doesn't put in the same effort for his "partner," much less higher profile offices like Town Council. Why, Clark? Why now?
A few of the New Milford politico's who know both men say DeFeo is honest and acts with integrity. They also like Marty as a person, but are wary of his key backers - the shady NM Republican cabal. Not to be cynical, but the politico's are whispering.
So let's review: DeFeo wins nomination with support from all other towns in the district. New Milford carries on the fight, pouring a great deal of energy and $$ into a fight against a loyal, long standing fellow Republican. Then, throw in that the New Milford Repubs are famous for throwing dirt and dirty tricks, and you get a recipe for skepticism.
Luckily, I can't cast a vote in this primary. If you are an "R," don't blindly follow your local leaders. Ask some questions before you pull the lever on Tuesday. I'm not sure who the best candidate is - but I wouldn't defer to Rog Szenmaster's judgement.
9 comments:
I noticed yesterday that there are now several billboard signs supporting Marty Landgrebe.
The signs are the same size and in many of the same locations as the misleading anti-BoE signs from this spring. They could even be the same signs, just covered over with fabric to hide the old message.
Here's hoping Judge Landgrebe isn't friends with all his fans.
So if Marty has a supportive constituency, there's something fishy going on? Or if Szendy supports someone that person is suspect? I heard that the caucus vote was done on paper, not voice to hide the id of people who were being stronarmed into supprting DeFeo. (Although in the mainstream press I've heard nothing but good things about both candidates.) Maybe Marty has such impassioned supporters because he is a kind and copassionate judge when he handles one of his most important duties: children in the foster care system.
Bravo to the 11:59 poster. Marty is a very decent and honorable man whom I've known since high school. The NM Democrats were helping him with this primary. You are backwards, New Fairfield tried to use dirty backroom politics and enough people fought back so a good guy didn't screwed.
Reenie8888, I believe that this post relates more to a bigger picture here than just the candidacy of one person. I'll let CT Fair and Balanced weigh in on it as I did not write this post but this seems pretty clear:
"A few of the New Milford politico's who know both men say DeFeo is honest and acts with integrity. They also like Marty as a person, but are wary of his key backers - the shady NM Republican cabal. Not to be cynical, but the politico's are whispering."
This post, IMHO, is not about a particular candidate so much as about the inside baseball of politics, so to speak.
OR (in an another metaphor)...
If you want to understand the dog and pony show you have to first try to understand "who choreographs it and how?"
And, yes gimlet eyes, those signs do look an awful lot like the BIG signs with the even BIGGER LIES on them from the education funding debate.
Bigger lies? Read the budget from the BOE. 1.3 million were raises and the Utility estimate were over 600k. These are facts. Did you notice the surplus again this year?
Regarding Landgrebe vs. DeFeo. The effort was made to make sure the best, most qualified and efficent Probate Judge was elected for the newly consolidated court. Period. Judge Landgrebe has taught other courts in the state how to be more efficient which benefits the PEOPLE.
And the Dirty tricks were all played by the DeFeo people including George Linkletter from Sherman and David Hawley from Bridgewater. The country club group wanted access to DeFeo the probate judge.
Drink Liberally you are Pathetic. Can't wait until after the November elections when the country gets some balance. Many of you Left Wing Nut Jobs can go back to weaving baskets.
Or you can start weaving quilts with the Mayor.
Marty is a nice person - that has been stated repeatedly by more than just me. But his backers are the troublemakers, and there is reason to be suspicious of this crowd. And, I'll say it again - have you EVER seen such energy put into a campaign? Especially for probate judge? It leaves the rest of us wondering.
If the "country club group" wanted access to DeFeo, then why didn't they spend their "country club" big bucks on a DeFeo campaign? Obviously, poor little New Milford can't compete with that (boo hoo). Unless poor little New Milford's elite had too much to lose in this one. What - me cynical? I guess we'll just have to review the donor list for Marty's campaign; that will tell us a great deal about who had skin in the game.
It sounds like you know a lot about the BOE budget battle - are you part of the group that put up the large signs this spring? Did you reuse them for Marty? Same size, I think, and in the same places. Makes one wonder, doesn't it?
Oh! anonymous...
Me thinks thou dost protest too much.
And here we are having a rational discussion and there you are tossing around insults.
And anon., bear in mind that your insults are only anonymous to readers... But not to the Blog owner.
I don't mind open and rational discussions on topics and contrary views... But I don't generally encourage cowardly insults hiding behind those anon. handles.
Hey, Anon, as long as you're throwing fact bombs about budgeting, what do you have to say about this fact.
During this budget season, when folks were claiming the schools overestimated fuel costs, The Town of NM UNDER budgeted it's fuel by $203K. Then they had to appropriate those additional funds from the undesignated fund. Just so we're clear, that's UNDER ESTIMATING by 51%. Fact.
Go ahead - check it out in the recent town audit (for the year ending June 2009). The audit was delivered to the Board of Finance and dated Feb. 24, 2010. Fact.
It's interesting how Jankowski and the Mayor didn't mention this audit until after the first budget vote. I guess that way they could continue the false claim that the town did a "great" job budgeting fuel compared to the BOE. 51% UNDER ESTIMATE? Good budgeting, fools.
Now that's a fact.
Post a Comment