Election Section 2012 by Cheshire Herald

ELECTION 2012

October 25, 2012

THE CHESHIRE HERALD, OCTOBER 25, 2012

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Candidates For All Offices Offer Their Reasons For Running All candidates were asked to brieﬂy explain why they want to be elected to certain seats within state government. Here is what they had to say. (Note: * indicates incumbent) in but be one of the best to retire in. Immediately stop the early release program that has put violent criminals back onto our streets, so our families, friends, and neighbors can be safe. I will bring a fresh vision and voice to Hartford.

CT House Of Representatives 89th District

*Vickie Nardello, Democrat

I am running because, as chair of Energy and Technology, I worked to pass two landmark pieces of legislation that support clean energy, reduce rates, and promote job development. Utilities are held accountable by requiring performance standards and ﬁnes for failure to meet those standards. Careful monitoring is necessary to meet the established goals and I plan to oversee that process. I bring a balanced approach to state government by carefully scrutinizing and eliminating programs that do not work while preserving vital services to seniors, education funding, and health care access. I work across party lines to develop consensus. The willingness to address problems we face is far more important than empty promises and rigid ideology. I am a strong consumer advocate who stands up to special interests. I work closely with constituents on local or individual issues. By serving, I can show people that government does work for them.

Lezlye Zupkus, Republican

I am seeking ofﬁce because we cannot afford to keep spending beyond our means and use rising taxes as a solution. We must create a businessfriendly state so companies can grow, create jobs, and attract more businesses, which will allow our children the choice to live and work here. Create a state that is not the worst state to retire

90th District

*Mary Fritz, Democrat I am again seeking the support of the people of Cheshire and Wallingford to elect me to the Connecticut House of Representatives. Together we have accomplished many things, from establishing a special P.I.L.O.T. for prisons, to water lines for ﬁre safety, to land for the Linear Trail, to creating a defense plant zone which made it easy for EVAC to relocate to Cheshire, to a new turf ﬁeld for our young people to enjoy. I have had the courage because of your input to vote “no” on tax increases, on the repeal of the death penalty, and against the early release program. My only campaign promise is to work hard for you and to protect your interests. We need to keep this great partnership going.

Guy Darter, Republican

My platform is based on eliminating the state income tax on senior social security payments, stopping the early release of violent felons back into our communities, adding additional welfare auditors to reduce welfare fraud, and forcing the state to operate using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) so that there are no more phony budgets.

103rd District

Liz Linehan, Democrat I believe that the families of the 103rd District deserve to have their voices heard in Hartford. Like our families, the state must live within its means and balance the budget to lessen the burden on our towns. In addition to attracting and retaining high-quality jobs, my priorities will be to continue im-

proving our schools while aligning their curricula with the highpaying precision manufacturing and biotech jobs that are growing here in the state, give consumers the right to know what is in their food, and reduce the cost of energy for seniors, families, and small businesses. Additionally, I will be a responsive and accessible legislator who truly stands up for the values of Cheshire, Southington, and Wallingford. I will ﬁght for women’s rights and reject the most extreme elements of both political parties. In short, I will give a loud and effective voice to the people of this District.

*Al Adinolﬁ, Republican

Governor Dannel P. Malloy faced a state budget deficit of over $3 billion. Despite pledging we would get through the difficulty through “shared sacrifice,” he pushed through a $1.8 billion tax increase per year on Connecticut residents during a serious recession, and when they could afford it the least. At the same time, Malloy and the Democrats approved a tax increase of nearly $1 billion per year. I opposed the Democrats’ budget and supported budget alternatives, which did not increase taxes and made targeted spending cuts while preserving aid to our local communities and promoting a business-friendly environment to grow jobs. I also opposed the Early Release credits program, which is now letting violent felons out of jail early. In only nine months, criminals who were released early under this program have now been rearrested for two murders, one sexual assault, and the shooting of a toddler. I will fight for repeal of this program.

State Senate 13th District

Dante´ Bartolomeo, Democrat

During my years as a City Councilwoman and community advocate, my number-one priority has been to ensure that my fellow residents had a committed voice ﬁghting for the issues they care about most.

For more than a decade, I have worked in our neighborhoods and stood by our families to deliver real results. And today, I promise that I will bring the same level of dedication and advocacy to your community so Cheshire will get the representation it deserves in Hartford for years to come. As State Senator, I promise to bring my experience ﬁghting for ﬁscal responsibility, strong public education, small business assistance, and increased access to affordable health care to enhance the quality of life for all citizens. These are the values I will take with me to Hartford, where I will always be an honest and genuine voice for Cheshire and the entire 13th District.

*Len Suzio, Republican

Four issues dominate: Taxes, crime, jobs, and reckless state spending. A few weeks ago the Governor said he "hoped" to avoid tax increases. I will not vote for any tax increase in the next session. The Governor and Legislature imposed the biggest tax increase in Connecticut history. Another tax would be a bad mistake and grossly unfair. The projected deﬁcit is the result of the failure to hold the line on real spending. The "Early Release" program as implemented is extremely dangerous and must be suspended immediately. Already two murders and a rape have been committed by hardened convicts released under the program. We can't wait until next year to reform the law. I have proposed my "First 5000" program to support Connecticut small businesses who are the real job creators. Finally, I will continue to vote against reckless spending like the busway.

16th District

John Mazurek, Democrat

I am running for the 16th State Senate position to represent all of the people in Cheshire, Prospect, Southington, Waterbury, and Wolcott. As a State Representative, I earned the reputation as someone who is completely accessible and

one who will vote the convictions of his constituents. I am not interested in seeking sound bites or promoting issues that do not affect the ﬁve towns that I represent. As a Representative, I voted to keep capital punishment in place, sponsored the legislation “three strikes and you’re out” to ensure dangerous repeat offenders stay in prison, and voted against numerous budget proposals because they simply spent too much taxpayer money. At the same time, I promoted several bills to protect our seniors and ensure our children receive a strong education. I have an eight-year record of voting as a moderate, and will continue to vote that way.

*Joe Markley, Republican

Our state and nation face the worst crisis I have witnessed. In my opinion, this is no ordinary downturn, but alarming evidence of fundamental weaknesses in our economy and our society. The difﬁculties are beyond the strength and wisdom of any single citizen, yet the principles on which our country was founded, familiar to us all, have the power to restore us. I returned to the public arena solely to promote those principles: ﬁscal responsibility, personal liberty, free enterprise, local control, and, above all, government by the people. I believe I have an understanding of politics and the legislative process which enables me to apply the principles I cherish. I have consistently worked to make state government recognize and respect limits: limits on spending, on taxes, on executive power, and on the ability of politicians to mandate the way we run our lives, our families, our businesses, and our communities.

Know Where You Are Supposed To Vote Before Election Day Arrives District One Cheshire High School 525 S. Main Street

District Five Doolittle School 735 Cornwall Avenue

District Two Chapman School 38 Country Club Road

District Three

District Six Highland School 490 Highland Avenue

Artsplace 1220 Waterbury Road

District Four

Norton School 414 N. Brooksvale Road

District Seven Dodd Middle School 100 Park Place

THE CHESHIRE HERALD, OCTOBER 25, 2012

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Voters Will Have To Decide On Several Referendum Questions by Josh Morgan Herald Staff More than $34 million in projects rest in the hands of voters this coming Election Day. Those casting ballots for President, Senate, Congress, and more will also have the opportunity to weigh in on three different projects facing the Town of Cheshire. All told, the three projects total approximately $34.4 million. While these projects have garnered the support of local elected officials, it is up to the voters to determine if any of them actually come to fruition. The questions are located on top of the ballot. As promised by local officials, the upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Plant is back for voter approval. In the 2011 election, more than 5,000 people voted on the referendum, which was defeated by less than 150 votes. It was close but, soon after the election, officials noted the project would be back in a year’s time. That time is now, and voters will once again weigh in on

the $32.15 million project. Town Councilor and Budget Committee Chairman David Schrumm said it was “very critical” that the project is completed. “We have miles of sewer pipes and pump stations, but it’s a system that is out of sight for most residents,” Schrumm said, “but if there is one municipal service that Cheshire will miss very quickly it’s the Wastewater Treatment Plant not working.” The money would be used to replaced old and outdated equipment for the plant that never stops running. The upgrades would take place over the next few years while maintaining daily service. Some of the equipment is more than 40 years old, while most is approximately 25 years old. The project will not expand the capacity of the plant because ofﬁcials have studied the trends of Cheshire and believe the current capacity will be satisfactory for the foreseeable future. Also as part of the project, a new phosphorus removal component will be added to the treat-

ment of the effluent. A small-scale test was held recently and proved the technology the Town plans to buy would be more than sufficient to achieve the state mandated numbers. Even residents with septic systems are using the facility because, when the tanks are pumped, the trucks unload at the treatment plant. According to the explanatory text, which is expected be mailed to every registered voter later this week, the equipment at the plant is “well past the planned service life.” “This upgrade is necessary to avoid an equipment failure that could lead to a discharge of excess effluent which could compromise public health,” theinformation states. Schrumm called the project the “big gorilla” in the room. Over the years, the Town has planned for the project, and has delayed certain others because of its price tag. Over the last 12 months, the cost of the project increased by about $750,000 because of material and labor prices. However,

in that same timeframe, the Town has secured a $7 million state grant to help offset the costs of phosphorus removal, with the remainder of the balance ﬁnanced at 2 percent. Schrumm noted that, if the project is shot down by voters and a design isn’t in place by summer, that money will be lost. “Without having the project in place, we lose the money and the ﬁnancing,” Schrumm explained. “It lost by a really small amount last year. I hope voters will approve it.” Also on the ballot is a $1.5 million appropriation for road repavement and repair. The money will be used to help maintain the 151 miles of Cheshireowned roads in the coming years. Schrumm noted that has been the standard appropriation for the last few years because of a 2009 Pavement Management Study that outlined Cheshire’s roads. If this appropriation continues into the future, each street would be on an approximately 20-year life span. “It’s a lot of money, but there

is a lot of roads,” Schrumm said. “We built our infrastructure already and this is protecting our investment.” According to the explanatory text, the money may be spent on design engineering, permitting and land acquisition. It could also be used for construction, such as drainage, grading, and asphalt. Roads will either be repaved, or chip sealed, depending on condition. The priority of roads is based on the 2009 report. Finally, voters will decide if $750,000 will be appropriated for a technology reserve fund. The fund, which is a joint initiative of the Town and Board of Education, will help fund a multi-year strategic plan to address deﬁciencies in the existing technology. Money will also be used to help strengthen and improve the technological infrastructure. “It will allow us to do a lot of things in the long-term,” Schrumm said. “It’s a big chunk of money, but I think Cheshire residents appreciate the value of technology.”

Al Adinolfi has a plan to bring jobs back to Connecticut. H Cut the size of government. H Change the state government culture into one focused on customer service. H Reduce or eliminate taxes and fees that hamper job creation. H Stop piling up debt on taxpayers. H Require a cost vs. benefit analysis of regulations that stifle innovation and competition. H Allow small businesses to do public projects more efficiently and at less cost.

Adinolfi Al

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Paid for by Al Adinolfi 2012, Gil Linder, Treasurer. Approved by Al Adinolfi.

H Common Sense Keep

in Hartford.

www.adinolfi2012.com

THE CHESHIRE HERALD, OCTOBER 25, 2012

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2012

Candidates Running For The CT House Of Representatives Each candidate for the Connecticut House of Representatives was asked to answer the following three questions: 1.) State aid accounts for nearly 17 percent of the Town’s $100 million Operating Budget. If the state continues to struggle ﬁnancially, would you be in favor of cutting state aid to municipalities like Cheshire? 2.) What is your opinion on education reforms that have been enacted/proposed recently and what else would you like to see done in this area to help students succeed? 3.) Connecticut unemployment remains high at about 9 percent. What hasn't been done to spur employment growth and what can be done in the near future? (Note: * indicates incumbent)

89th District *Vickie Nardello, Democrat the Energy and Technology Committee, Member of the Public Health, Insurance and Real Estate Committee and the Medicaid Oversight Council.

Age: 61 Occupation: Retired Public Health Dental Hygienist Family: Daughter Megen; granddaughters Stella and Samantha Relevant Experience: House chair of

1.) During the last budget cycle, the original budget proposal that was presented to the legislature sought to reduce aid to municipalities. I rejected that proposal during the discussion because reduction in state aid would only mean that the town of Cheshire would have to raise property taxes to make up that revenue. Increasing the property tax burden would hurt my constituents, especially those on ﬁxed incomes. Seventy-ﬁve percent of our budget is not subject to cuts due to contractual See NARDELLO, page 8

Lezlye Zupkus, Republican Age: 46 Occupation: Director of Development at Saint Mary's Hospital Foundation Family: Married to Greg for 23 years with two daughters, Aizlyn, 12, and Reagan, 5 Relevant Experience: Elected a Planning and Zoning Commissioner for the town of Prospect, Republican Town Committee member for a number of years. 1) The state’s ﬁnancial struggles are not a result of state aid to municipalities; they are a result of excessive spending on programs that are not getting the desired results. Before cutting state aid, which would lead to an increase in local property taxes,

I would require a top-down analysis of all our state programs and eliminate the ones that are not producing required results. I also believe we need to reform the way state funding is allocated to municipalities. See ZUPKUS, page 8

THE CHESHIRE HERALD, OCTOBER 25, 2012

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2012

90th District *Mary Fritz, Democrat

Age: N/A Occupation: Legislator and Domestic Engineer Family: Six children, 14 grandchildren, and a husband of 49 years Relevant Experience: Served 14 terms in the Connecticut State legislature. 1.) Absolutely not. Several years ago, the Education Cost Sharing formula for Cheshire was cut over $300,000. I convinced the Speaker of the House that Cheshire could not afford this cut and she restored the money in the MashuntucketPequot fund. I work hard to bring money back to Cheshire because I believe Cheshire’s state aid is not comparable to what you, the people of Cheshire, send to Hartford in taxes. All my Cheshire projects I consider

your money coming back home. I worked several years ago to create the S.T.E.A.P. Program to cover Cheshire. This gave smaller communities grant money like the big cities under the Urban Act. The West Main Street reconstruction and Linear Trail are prime examples of this grant money. I carefully read legislation to see if I can make certain bills apply to benefit Cheshire. This is how I created the Defense Plant Zone. Pratt and Whitney was leaving and I believe that there had to be a way to make sure a like company could replace it. Research showed that Stratford had such a zone when Sikorsky left. I imitated the language including money for cleanup costs, working closely with the Department of Economic and Community Development, and Cheshire had a Defense Plant Zone. This is especially important for the surrounding small businesses who serve the employees, the gas stations, Paul’s (Restaurant), and the growers. 2.) The people of Cheshire are most fortunate to have a terrific school system. The Education Reform Bill was supposed to address the achievement gap. However, the first bill clearly made charter schools the solution to the problem and the teachers the cause of the problem. How can we ex-

Guy Darter, Republican Age: 57 Occupation: Entrepreneur/co-owner of Darter Specialties, Inc. Family: Wife Alice; Children Aaron, Adam and Ari; Our Dog Mickie Relevant Experience: 20 + years operating successful small business; years of working with non-proﬁt organizations running events, negotiating agreements and resolving ﬁnancial and other issues. 1.) No. There are many areas of the State budget to review and cut before looking to cut aid to towns and cities. If elected, I will bring a new set of eyes to view the problems we face. With my business background and experience, I will bring new ideas and perspectives to resolving our problems. 2.) Education is better controlled at the local level. Each city and town face different problems and have different resources available to them to address the issues that arise. Education is not a cookie cutter business. Towns and cities are better equipped to

define their issues and develop solutions that fit their needs. 3.) There are many actions that could be taken by the State to spur employment growth. First and foremost is a Connecticut-first attitude. By that I mean require all state agencies, state colleges and universities, municipalities, and quasi-governmental agencies to purchase services and products from in-state companies. Connecticut has many well-qualified ad agencies, yet the State went to a New York ad agency to develop its new ad campaign, “We’re still revolutionary.”

See FRITZ, page 7

103rd District Liz Linehan, Democrat

Age: 38 Occupation: Marketing Consultant Family: Husband Brian; children Zoe, 3, Connor, 1, and another little Linehan on the way Relevant Experience: Owner of marketing consultant business, lifelong Cheshire resident, homeowner, and mother. 1.) No. This would amount to a drastic increase in unfunded mandates from the state, and our property taxes would skyrocket. The state government must fund the priorities it deems necessary. Connecticut already relies far too much on property

taxes, and cutting aid to municipalities would move us dramatically in the wrong direction. 2.) I believe this year’s education reform legislation was a step in the right direction. It rightfully included all stakeholders at the table, and the final product was a compromise that is good for Connecticut children. But I’d like to see more work done to align our schools’ curricula with the needs of the job market, so more of our young people are prepared for the 21st Century jobs that we are working to grow. This is a priority of mine. 3.) While Connecticut has taken some steps to compete for jobs in the region and in the world, we still have yet to see the culture shift in state government that will make Connecticut more business-friendly. I will fight to eliminate the business entity tax, reduce energy costs for small businesses, and shape a first-class educational system that serves as a magnet for goodpaying, high-quality jobs.

*Al Adinolfi, Republican Age: 78 Occupation: Retired Engineering Manager Family: Wife Lillian; two daughters, six grandchildren Relevant Experience: Serving fifth term in the General Assembly representing the 103rd District, first elected in 1999; served on the Cheshire Town Council; Korean War Era veteran, retired engineering manager. 1.) No, I would not support such a decrease in state aid to our towns, as they count on this money in their operating budgets. I have continually fought to make sure Cheshire receives their fair share of state aid, and have supported budgets that are fiscally responsible and trim government, but always preserve that critical aid. 2.) I am pleased to be endorsed this year by the Connecticut Education Association. I supported legislation that provided 1,000 new school readiness slots, and comprehensive education reform bill during the past session of the legislature that had as its goal increased accountability for our school systems and improved achievement

for our students. I also, supported reforms that increased Vocational Agriculture grant funding by $1.425 million, and extends our current literacy pilot through 2013. I would like to continue expanding all these important areas and I am an advocate of implementing Full Day Kindergarten. 3.) Unfortunately, there have been many missed opportunities by our governor and majority in the legislature to help ﬁx our economy. While the unemployment ﬁgure hovers at 9 percent, there are many more who are underemployed or who have stopped See ADINOLFI, page 8

THE CHESHIRE HERALD, OCTOBER 25, 2012

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Candidates Running For The Connecticut State Senate Each candidate for the Connecticut State Senate was asked to answer the following three questions: 1.) Joblessness and difﬁculty retaining businesses remain a problem in Connecticut. What would you propose in the next term to help local small businesses thrive? 2.) Do you believe that the State of Connecticut spends too much money and, if so, where would you like to see cuts made? 3.) According to a report issued by the Tax Foundation, Connecticut was second in the country in terms of taxes collected per capita, coming in at just over $1,600 per person. Do you believe that Connecticut taxes are too high? If so, what would a fair tax rate be? (Note: * indicates incumbent)

13th District Dante´ Bartolomeo, Democrat

Age: 43 Occupation: City Councilwoman, Stayat-home mom Family: Husband Doug, Children Riley (16) and Cameron (10) Relevant Experience: Four years on Meriden City Council (currently Deputy Majority Leader, Chair of Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Vice-Chair of Finance, Liaison to the Board of Education), coordinator for HeathCare4Every1 Campaign, Meriden Board of Education FullDay Kindergarten committee, member of Meriden Children First Initiative. 1.) Small businesses are the heart and soul of our economy, and we must do everything in our power to ensure they have the resources to succeed. Connecticut has already taken an important step with the

Small Business Express program, which offers loans to small businesses aimed at expansion, job creation, and economic viability. The program was expanded this year to include businesses with 100 or fewer employees instead of those with 50 or fewer. But there is more we can do. Currently, prospective businesses undergo a lengthy, burdensome permitting process involving multiple agencies, and longer waiting periods than most states. Streamlining that process would eliminate redundancies and create better information sharing between agencies so businesses only have to wait months instead of years to begin operations. I also propose the creation of a statewide internship program that offers incentives for businesses that hire, as interns, students who live or attend school in Connecticut. This will allow students to build relationships and gain experience while helping our economy by keeping young citizens in-state after graduation. And I will work to offer affordable, quality health care alternatives so small businesses can hire new workers instead of paying high insurance costs. 2.) There are always ways to spend less, and that process begins with ensuring that Connecticut is not wasting the money it is See BARTOLOMEO, page 8

*Len Suzio, Republican Age: 64 Occupation: Bank regulatory expert and consultant specializing in the Community Reinvestment Act and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act. Co-founder and principal in GeoDataVision Family: Married to Kathryn Schiffelbian with 5 children, Katelyn, Krista (deceased), Rachel, Faith, and Josh Relevant Experience: Elected to State Senate in 2011, Meriden Board of Education from 1995 through 2009, Former Trustee of Cheshire Academy, Kiwanis, High Hopes, University of Pennsylvania New Haven Alumni Club, Connecticut ProFamily Committee. 1.) The largest source of job creation is the small business community. The current Administration has doled out hundreds of millions of dollars to support 10 large businesses, but only a fraction of that amount for the 88,000 small businesses owned by Connecticut families. I have proposed my “First 5000” program that will provide up to $1 billion of ﬁnancing for Connecticut small businesses. The funding would be provided by using Connecticut pension fund money to purchase the SBA-guaranteed portion of loans made to small businesses. Since SBA guarantees are “full faith and credit” U.S. government obliga-

tions, they are the safest investments in the world. So the pension fund money would be safe. But now we would be using Connecticut pension fund money to support Connecticut businesses to create Connecticut jobs. Finally, the cost of this program would be a fraction of the cost of the First Five program. 2.) Connecticut spending is out of control. This is borne out by the fact that the Governor claims he cut spending last year even though real spending increased by $1 billion. The problem is that when politicians talk about spending cuts, they frequently mean cuts in “budgeted” spending, which always represents wishful spending - what the politician would like to spend. Consequently, when politicians speak of cuts in “spending” they almost always See SUZIO, page 8

16th District John “Corky” Mazurek, Democrat

Age: 59 Occupation: Materials and Process Engineer, Pratt & Whitney, 39 years. Family: Married to Cindy 36 years, two children, Kara and Paul Relevant Experience: State Representative eight years - 2003 – 2010 - representing Wolcott and Southington. 1.) The legislature passed a comprehensive jobs bill last session, which my opponent voted against, that provided businesses tax credits for hiring veterans and money for retraining programs. This jobs bill also contained a component called “the

Small Business Express Program”. The SBEP has been credited with creating and saving 4000 jobs since June. The program provides loans and tax credits to small businesses that would have difficulty obtaining conventional bank credit. From our early feedback from small businesses, it appears that it is working well. The legislature last year also began to align our technical schools’ curriculum with the changing needs of small business. Obviously, we need to continue to monitor the health of Connecticut’s economy and that of small business. 2.) I do believe Connecticut is spending too much money. Where can we cut? There is certainly government waste out there which should be eliminated. We should look to see if any state agencies can be consolidated. The Citizens Election program, which allows candidates of all parties to receive taxpayer money to run for office, in my opinion, is a great program, but should be eliminated in these tough financial times. See MAZUREK, page 8

*Joe Markley, Republican Age: 55 Occupation: Legislator Family: Single Relevant Experience: State Senator, 1985-7, 2011-12; Founding Chairman, Connecticut Commission on Children, 1985-7; Chairman, Southington Republican Town Committee, 1988-90; Executive Director, Connecticut Taxpayer's Committee, 1990-5. 1.) The only hope for economic growth is free enterprise. Over-taxation and unnecessary regulations dramatically weakened what was once a great manufacturing base. We must restore a climate that permits every sort of initiative to ﬂourish. That means reining in the size and scope of government. Businesses need to know that taxes won’t continue rising and the only way to guarantee that is to cut state spending. Nonsensical regulations, imposed by out-of-touch bureaucrats, plague every small enterprise I’ve visited. I’ve been gathering information on the subject all year: addressing over-regulation will be a priority in my next term.

The governor’s solution is crony capitalism, bribing large companies to stay in our state or move here. Malloy’s jobs program gives hundreds of millions of dollars to big, well-connected corporations, a disconcerting number of them in his home town. Better to leave that money in our pockets, and let us support local businesses. 2.) We have been spending too much for a long time, and a frightening bill has come due. Not only do we face another budget shortfall next session—after the largest tax hike in state history, which I opposed— but our per-capita indebtedness is by far See MARKLEY, page 7

THE CHESHIRE HERALD, OCTOBER 25, 2012

Markley....

continued from page 6

the highest in the nation. Even last year, in the face of an enormous shortfall, Governor Malloy and the Democratic majority increased state spending by more than 7 percent. I am prepared and determined to make tough choices on spending. During the last two years, I have battled enormous, wasteful government programs, like the notorious New Britain to Hartford

Fritz....

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pect children to respect teachers when government makes them the targets? The Education Committee developed another bill. However, it was not until all the players got together was there ﬁnally a reform bill – a true one. I feel very strongly about certain issues in education. I taught in Wallingford. I owned and ran a private nursery school. I also taught reading under Title One in Meriden. In addition, I was a

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Busway—at $1,000 per inch, the biggest boondoggle in state history. I will not relent in the ﬁght against waste. I also have the resolve to force agencies to ﬁnd savings. The legislature is in effect a board of directors for state government. We need to set priorities and insist that administrators deliver essential services within the budget parameters we establish, as would be done in the corporate world. If

we don’t start reducing the budget now—carefully but signiﬁcantly, and steadily—we will be forced to make larger cuts willy-nilly down the road. 3.) I have been a tax ﬁghter throughout my career, proud to have helped organize and lead the grassroots battle against Lowell Weicker’s state income tax. In the 20 years since the income tax passed, state spending has grown at an average rate of 7 percent a

year, while economic growth has been the worst in America. Adjusted for inﬂation and for population, state spending is 2.5-times what it was in 1990. I believe the only way to stop spending increases is to turn off the spigot. Government takes a certain percentage of our income, with revenue rising or falling with the economy. In bad times, we shouldn’t reach deeper into the taxpayer’s pocket. Government,

too, must make do with less. Despite the largest tax increase in state history last year—which I fought not only in the chamber but throughout Connecticut, urging citizens to contact their legislators and stop the hike—we will face another large deﬁcit when we go back in session in January. I repeat the pledge I made two years ago: I will not vote to raise your taxes, or to increase state spending by one dime.

member of the Education Committee for 22 years. I believe that making evaluations required for teachers and administrators and having them standardized is a good thing. I believe that parental involvement is key for children to thrive in school. In my opinion, I feel very strongly that establishing a uniform reading assessment program is key to all learning, but it should be in all schools up through third grade, not just in failing schools

or Alliance Districts. Experience has taught me that reading is crucial. If a child cannot read after the third grade, then education will be a great burden, not a gift. All schools should have this program. 3.) I strongly believe that with the jobs bill of 2011 and 2012, Connecticut is on its way to recovery. I was fortunate enough to bring a spokesman from the Department of Economic & Community Development to make a presen-

tation of the jobs bill to the Economic Development Council of Cheshire. To date, we know that in 2011 55,628 jobs were created or retained and in 2012, 88,268 were created or retained. I also know, though many didn’t like the money being spent for Jackson Lab, that this will lead to 6,861 permanent jobs. In addition, three Connecticut ﬁrms are in charge of the project construction. With the Jobs Express program, the small business will do well and will get

that boost which makes it possible to hire more people. I ﬁrmly believe that we must address the energy cost because Connecticut’s cost are so high that companies leave for states where costs are lower. A program has also been established called Angel Investors, which gets tax credits for helping start-up companies. To date this has also been very successful. In the end, the combination of these programs will bring our unemployment rate down.

Elect

Vickie Orsini Nardello The Courage to Lead following two severe power outages.

The Experience We Trust Vickie gets results by researching issues and working across party lines.

The Willingness to Listen and helps people solve problems.

Vickie Deserves Our Vote. On November 6th vote for

Vickie Orsini Nardello

The Integrity We Respect Vickie is a strong consumer advocate who stands up to special interests.

The Results We Expect

89th District Bethany, Cheshire and Prospect

Paid for by Nardello 2012, Megen Groski Treasurer. Approved by Vickie Orsini Nardello

Eight

Nardello.... continued from page 4

obligations. Municipal funding is included in the 25 percent that is considered discretionary. Through my opposition, I clearly established priorities in the budget-cutting process. I do not support cuts to state aid to municipalities. 2.) The state education reforms passed this session sought to make changes in early reading, school readiness, teacher preparation, and teacher tenure. They address the huge disparity in performance between urban students and suburban students. The initial

Zupkus....

continued from page 4

I cannot believe that Cheshire only gets back $0.29 cents in state funding per $1 our residents pay in income taxes. If the state distributed the municipal grants in a fairer way, our property taxes could be reduced without raising the income and sales tax again. 2) It’s vital that Connecticut reform its education system. It has been said time and time again that

THE CHESHIRE HERALD, OCTOBER 25, 2012

2012 proposal was very controversial. Through numerous meetings with the stakeholders, the proposal was reﬁned. The reforms enacted need close monitoring by all of those impacted with the expectation that necessary changes will have to be made as we evaluate the success of the implementation process. Any changes must involve all stakeholders. In addition to the current reform, we need programs to improve student behavior so less class time is lost on discipline. Principals need more administrative support so that they can

spend more time with students and teachers. Professional development should be used to help improve teacher performance. The number of instructional hours should be evaluated and linked to student needs. Data teams should be put in place to inform teachers of student performance so that instruction can be modiﬁed to meet student needs. 3.) The state has placed too much of a focus on attracting and retaining jobs though ﬁnancial incentives. We should shift to developing policies that create demand for

services and products. When we require that 20 percent of our energy needs are met by renewable sources, we create demand for low emission resources. When we adopt policies that promote energy conservation, we create demand for energy audit services and building retroﬁts. As I speak to businesses, they have told me that their highest expenses are for health care and energy costs, not taxes. If we reduce costs in those areas, we will free up money to invest in new jobs. The state can promote job creation by addressing long-

term infrastructure needs such as roads, bridges, schools, airports, and seaports. We can develop curriculum that anticipates the jobs that will be needed in the future, allowing graduating students to ﬁnd work. We can inform businesses of programs that promote job creation that already exist. If we establish a single point of entry for businesses and assign an individual to help them ﬁnd out about all programs in the state, we will link businesses with needed programs and reduce their administrative time.

if we do not have a strong public school system our entire economy and society will not continue to offer the same high-skilled and college-ready students that we have been famous for in the past. In order to make our schools great, they need to be ﬁlled with skilled and enthusiastic teachers, not just the ones that have been around the longest. We need to make sure that our students are prepared for the changing world

economy. The education reforms adopted by the legislature were a good ﬁrst step, but that’s all they were. We need to make sure that education reform stays at the forefront in the next two years, so we can truly have a ﬁrst class education system in Connecticut again. 3) I think the better question is what has been done to spur job creation and economic growth in the state?

I know the actions taken over the last two years have included raising the sales tax, creating an electric generation tax, enacting a minimum business tax and 20 percent corporate surcharge, and becoming the ﬁrst state in the nation to require employers to offer paid sick days to all their employees. They have had exact opposite effect as desired - they have discouraged job growth. I will support reducing the tax

and regulatory burden on small businesses and will propose eliminating the “First Five” and other corporate welfare programs that have given the limited resources our state has to billion-dollar hedge-fund operators, and redirect that support to small businesses that will grow and put our residents back to work. We can’t get our economy growing if all the government support is directed to a few.

are currently costing the State critical revenue. By instituting combined reporting, we can close a loophole that allows multi-state companies to report proﬁts in states with lower tax rates, thus depriving Connecticut of close to $100 million that could be used to balance the budget or provide municipal aid to our communities. Closing another loophole that ensures corporate income that is not apportioned to any state - and therefore goes untaxed – would also save us tens of millions of

dollars. And through improved enforcement at the Department of Revenue, we can ensure all citizens and corporations play by the rules while generating revenue and reducing the burden on working families. 3.) We have to lower the tax burden on our lower- and middleincome families. The most recent changes to Connecticut’s rates are a positive step forward, but more can be done to make our system more equitable for all citizens. Currently, families who earn the lowest

20 percent of income pay taxes equal to 11.4 percent of their income while families who earn the top 1 percent only pay taxes equal to 5.5 percent of their income. A more progressive tax rate would allow us to reduce our income tax rates for middle-income taxpayers. Connecticut also must lessen its reliance on property taxes as a revenue source. To bring property taxes under control, the State needs to increase its PILOT reimbursements so municipalities don’t have to

make up the difference on the backs of taxpayers. One way of doing so would be for Connecticut to sell State-owned buildings back to municipalities, which would create signiﬁcant property tax relief. It’s important to remember that property taxes don’t just affect homeowners, but are also the largest tax burden small businesses currently face. If we don’t keep our promise to cities and towns by continuing to deliver municipal aid, small businesses will suffer.

and fees levied on our citizens. Not only do we have a very large number of taxes, but also the rates are comparatively high, too. For example, Connecticut imposes not one, but two taxes on gasoline purchases. The state imposes a $0.25/gallon excise tax. But in addition, Connecticut also imposes the Petroleum Gross Receipts tax which is about 7.5 percent of the “rack” price of gasoline. Combined, these two gas taxes are about $0.48/gallon currently and contributed a “windfall” of $62 million in gas tax collections above what was budgeted last year. I proposed and succeeded in getting the Legislature to cap and cut the PGRT last year (at today’s price, my gas tax cut saves about 7 cents per gallon). However, when I proposed a $0.17/gallon reduc-

tion my proposal was defeated on a straight party line vote. The gas taxes hurt everyone, but they hurt low and middle income people disproportionately.

I believe reducing the gas taxes would not only help gas purchasers, they would help to stimulate the economy. People are likely to travel more

and spend more. Furthermore, out of state travelers would be more likely to stop in Connecticut to purchase gas and visit local stores and restaurants.

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I think we need to take every opportunity possible to reduce

the size and cost of government. A fair rate would be 5 percent.

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important economic development programs, it is just a start. Over regulation and high taxes are major obstacles to economic growth and job creation, and continue to put us behind most other states in our recovery. We must change that culture if we are to keep the businesses we have and have the capacity to attract new ones.

Bartolomeo.... continued from page 6

spending. I propose implementing a process by which the State examines the effectiveness of the subsidies and incentives it currently provides to businesses. Any subsidy that is not meeting standards for job creation or related economic benchmarks should be reviewed to maximize effectiveness, and subsidies impartially determined to be ineffective could be withdrawn to save the State money. Connecticut could also beneﬁt by closing several loopholes that

Suzio....

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mean a slowdown in the rate of increase of spending, not a reduction of real spending. One of the biggest parts of the budget is the section related to the state share of Medicaid expenditures. The Federal Department of Health and Human Services has studies that show as much as 9 percent of Medicaid claims are fraudulent. The Republican budget proposed an increase in antifraud staffing. If that increased staff identified even half the fraudulent claims cited in the HHS studies the state would realize a very considerable reduction in Medicaid expenses, without hurting deserving beneficiaries. 3.) Undoubtedly, Connecticut taxes are unacceptably high. There are more than 360 taxes

Mazurek....

The program costs between $20 and $25 million yearly. Another area of concern is fraud. We need to put safe-guards into place to ensure that people who truly are in need of help receive it, while those who are not entitled to assistance do not receive it. 3.) Of course taxes are too high. Everyone who pays taxes believes they pay too much. There are sources of government spending that could be reduced and that would stabilize the tax rate.

Adinolﬁ....

looking for work, so the reality is much worse. Approximately 83,000 jobs have been lost statewide since the start of the recession, and our unemployment rate continues to be above the national average. While the jobs bill last year won bipartisan approval and took some important steps forward by creating or expanding