Thursday November 1, 2007

Herrmann supports Easton Seniors

My Fellow Eastonite:

As the Republican Party candidate for First Selectman, I'd like to share with you my interest in and perspective on issues pertaining to senior citizens. I have lived in Easton for 25 years but more importantly, my wife Hove and I plan on staying here for at least another 25 years. We want to be Easton seniors.

I am in Easton today, thanks to the kind generosity of a former Easton senior named Catherine Melvin. Without the second mortgage (representing half of the purchase price) provided by Mrs. Melvin, I would not have been able to buy her home back in 1982. Mrs. Melvin shared with me 35 years of happy memories in Easton along with all of the concerns that our seniors face today. I wish I could have helped Mrs. Melvin.

It is my heartfelt belief that our seniors are a tremendous resource to our community. They provide us with an understanding of our past and a perspective on our future. The senior population requires minimal town services yet provides an important demographic balance. The children of Easton benefit from having seniors as neighbors as much as the seniors benefit from being around children.

The Easton Republican Party has always had the concerns of Easton seniors at heart and I want to assure you that I will continue this tradition with conviction and commitment. I have been a staunch proponent of senior tax relief over and above those tax credits provided by the State of Connecticut. In fact, as a member of the Senior Tax Relief Study Committee a while back, I helped to ensure that this very program would continue.

Many of you are concerned about rising property taxes and so am I. Getting a grip on spending our tax dollars efficiently and establishing performance measures for town departments will benefit us all. We need to recognize that seniors on a fixed income cannot tolerate the type of tax increases we have seen over the past ten years.

I clearly understand that most seniors would like to stay in their own homes as long as possible. High density, age restricted, luxury condominiums, which cost more than many homes in town do not address the needs of our senior population. I will continue to maintain our existing protective zoning regulations so that this does not happen and work with you to address the issues of maintenance and transportation which challenge your ability to stay in your home.

I have been honored by many kind words expressed by certain Easton Seniors (please see the attached quotes). Hopefully, they will help you better understand where I stand on issues related to seniors. Please feel free to contact me with your ideas and concerns. In the meantime, I respectfully ask for your vote on Tuesday, November 6th and look forward to serving as your First Selectman.

Always with the best interest of Easton in mind, I remain, Yours faithfully, Thomas A. Herrmann

Comments from Easton Seniors

• "Tom Herrmann was there when the seniors really needed someone to support the tax relief program. When some other members of the Senior Tax Committee seemed inclined to eliminate the incentive program, Tom was forceful and articulate, and the program was saved."
  
  - Walter Eastwood, former member of the Tax Relief for the Elderly Committee and Joint Administrator of the present Tax Relief program.

• "As a former member of the Region 9 Board of Education, (70's) the Easton Board of Education (80's) and the Easton Police Commission (90's), as well as involvement in local activities, I can appreciate the energy that is required to be an effective public servant. We in Easton have to start passing the baton to the next generation to maintain the momentum necessary to move forward while keeping Easton the kind of place we and our families experienced when we moved or grew up here. With more than twenty years of volunteer service to the town and with his extensive experience in business administration, I know Tom Herrmann is the right man for the job of First Selectman"
  
  - Bill Freeman

• "I am impressed with Tom Herrmann's qualifications. He has a 'down to earth' quality which I believe encompasses, not only the concerns of all seniors, but the whole town."
  
  - Sophie Radomski, volunteer for 18 years, Easton Senior Center

• "Tom cares about Easton and its residents; he listens patiently and carefully to people who express their concerns to him."
  
  - Barbara Broderick, former member Tax Relief for the Elderly Committee

• "I have always been impressed with Tom Herrmann's ability to deal with complex situations and problem-solving. I believe that a First Selectman needs to have the expertise associated with owning and coordinating a business. He has such experience. He excels in skills that require precise attention to detail, careful consideration of the facts and accurate and patient administration of solutions. He has devoted twenty years of service to our town as a volunteer and has conscientiously attended numerous meetings associated with this service."
  
  - Tony Colonnese, First Selectman 1991-1997

• "Easton is governed by its residents through a town meeting form of government. However, the First Selectman needs to provide leadership in many aspects of town life. As a highly successful businessman, Tom Herrmann continues to show these managerial skills. Through many years of dedicated service to Easton on boards and commissions he has proved he can be a tremendous asset to the town. I am confident that as First Selectman he will continue to encourage, inspire and work with town employees and many volunteers without stifling their initiative. He is always willing to listen, explore and act upon suggestions and concerns. He is personable and easy to work with and he will always work effectively on Easton's behalf with his counterparts in surrounding towns and with state and federal officials."
  
  - Theodore Meyer, First Selectman 1985-1989