Jim Ezzes Asks For Your Vote

This Tuesday, November 8th the voters of Westport will go to the polls and elect members to the boards and commissions. These choices will be crucial to our town. This is not an election about political rhetoric, misrepresentations, untruths or finger pointing. Instead, this is an election to choose people who will manage our town, plan for our future and make educated, non-partisan decisions.

Let’s get the facts straight:  Despite one of the worst economic recessions in our Country, the finances of the town continue to be stable, financial reserves high, our debt service low and we have maintained our Aaa bond rating. We have not had to layoff employees, teachers or diminish core town services. Last year’s revenues were 20% over the previous years and 10% more than originally forecasted. Just over a week ago, Connecticut Magazine, based upon population, voted Westport schools and our economy number one in the state. At the same time we have kept our taxes at an unprecedented low. How then can we be in dire straits? We are not. Those are the facts.

In the past month Republican Board of Finance and Planning and Zoning Commission candidates and Bob Zappi, chairman of the Republican Town Committee have been fostering untruths, misrepresentations, made personal attacks and thrown mud. This has been done to scare and mislead. This kind of false, negative message and vindictive ranting should have no place in our town. This brings to mind the children’s story, Chicken Little, who ran around screaming that the sky was falling. Well, it wasn’t and it isn’t in Westport. Our town remains strong.

Last spring it was discovered that our outside actuarial firm had underestimated the number of town employees that were included in a particular retirement fund. Immediately, the First Selectman and Board of Finance addressed and remedied this oversight. The liability always existed but was being accounted for in a different manner. Most importantly, the oversight was discovered before it had any significant impact on town finances. Changes have been made to our financial organization and with our actuarial firm to ensure that this would not occur again. But it was a wakeup call. Healthcare costs keep rising and Westport, like every municipal and government employer across the country is assessing the impact of these raising costs on our long tern term liabilities. In government you face surprises. How you react is the true test of leadership. Do you run around blaming others or do you quietly assess and address the problem? The answer is clear. The Democratic leadership took action and resolved the problem. Those are the facts.

Municipal elections have a direct impact on our lives. The boards and commissions develop the school curriculum, determine the level of town services and set the tax rate. This election should be about selecting the best people: Ken Wirfel, Janis Collins, Jennifer Johnson, Mark Mathias, Michael Gordon and Jim Ezzes to guide our town. On November 8th we ask that you elect the Democratic team with proven experience to continue to lead Westport in the right direction.

Jim Ezzes

Chairman

Westport Democratic Town Committee