Tuesday August 7, 2007

My Fellow Eastonites,

Easton has been my home for almost 25 years and I am pleased to report that not too much has changed…at least in town. Since moving here at age 26, I met and married Hove, we had two sons, and are now seeing our younger son off to college. Meanwhile, Easton has built a new elementary school, a new library, and has expanded and renovated our middle school and town hall. Other than a few new houses, a drive through town looks pretty much as it did in 1982. And to tell you the truth, that's exactly the way I like it. Easton is truly a retreat from the hurried, commercialized world, which is quite extraordinary for a town today in Fairfield County. Our First Selectman Bill Kupinse calls it a jewel; I call it uncompromised. Either way, Easton is truly a special place to call home and I am glad to be here. My desire to participate in our town government is not new, but something that I have enjoyed over the past 20 years. With over 12 years on The Zoning Board of Appeals, three years on the Affordable Housing Task Force, a term on the Study Committee for Senior Tax Relief, three years on the Region 9 Financial Oversight Committee and two years on The Board of Finance, I am confident that I have the broad, requisite experience to be your First Selectman. It would be a great honor.

As guardians of our region's water supply, it is not only our desire to preserve our longstanding zoning regulations, but also our responsibility. Single family residences not only have less impact on the watershed, but also preserve the rural character and lifestyle that we all cherish. Our protective zoning regulations simply should not change.

One tragedy of government is that few, if any, citizens feel as if their hard-earned tax dollars are spent with the same frugal scrutiny as their take-home dollars. That should not be the case in Easton. While we have made courageous investments in our schools and town buildings over the past twelve years, our property taxes have increased greater than the average taxpayer's income. We must reverse that trend and I am committed to working closely with all town departments to be sure that your tax dollars are spent efficiently.

The education of our youth is our town's most important responsibility. My endorsement of our teachers and our school system is without reservation as they have prepared my sons well for advancing their studies and competing in the global marketplace. While I fully support our educational system, we must be certain that we spend money prudently on initiatives which contribute directly to the classroom education of all our students while continuing to maintain the infrastructure.

Our Senior Citizens are an invaluable asset to us all in Easton and deserve to stay in their homes as long as they like. We have helped many of them in the past through subsidies in their property taxes over and above credits given by the state - but we can, and should, do more. As we speak, a task force has been formed which is evaluating our current tax relief program. I intend to provide creative suggestions for their consideration which would benefit current seniors receiving benefits and extend them to others.

On Tuesday, November 6, 2007, you will be asked to make a choice among several candidates of various political parties - and perhaps others not even affiliated - in the Easton Municipal Elections. Although a Republican, I truly want to represent all Eastonites regardless of political affiliation as your First Selectman. I would appreciate your support as would Scott Centrella, your current Selectman, who is seeking another two year term as well as the rest of our team.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact me in the evening at home, or during the day at (203) 834-7826 ext. 232. I'd love to share my thoughts and ideas with you on my vision for a prosperous future together in Easton.

Always with the best interest of Easton in mind, I remain,
Yours faithfully,

Thomas A. Herrmann