Every Tuesday until Election Day, GOOD Morning Wilton will publish endorsements received by the candidates. This information has been compiled from press releases sent by the campaigns. These are not endorsements from GMW.com.
Brennan Chooses Vanderslice to Endorse
It has been my privilege to work with the two candidates currently seeking the position of first selectman and CEO of the Town of Wilton. I have enormous respect for both individuals, as the job is not easy. Government is not easy. Each day brings a range of problems, legal issues, complaints and opportunities.
Compounding local management stresses is the State of Connecticut’s serious fiscal problems, which has resulted in a continuing reduction of state support to municipalities. This will be a challenge for the next administration, as efforts are made to reduce property tax rate growth.
Due to Lynne Vanderslice’s demonstrated financial management skills and seven years of hands-on budget development and capital investment experience on the Board of Finance, I believe she is clearly the more qualified candidate to guide the Town of Wilton through difficult economic time periods and to effectively cope with complex municipal government matters.
Lynne is full of energy and also has a good sense of humor – personal qualities that I can assure you will be needed to be a competent manager of our community.
Please join me and vote for Lynne Vanderslice on Nov. 3.
Bill Brennan
Dubow Recommends Kalamarides for Finance
John Kalamarides is a candidate for re-election to the Board of Finance. Throughout his tenure on the Board, John has been a steady voice of reason, never reluctant to challenge the status quo, always ready to ask the difficult question, and diligently doing so with civility and respect. Beyond his extensive knowledge and experience in financial services, John brings to the office a conscientious commitment to serve all of Wilton’s citizens, from our youngest school children to our retired seniors. A good listener, an insightful analyst and a creative thinker, John has worked tirelessly to find ways to help reduce the tax burden on Wilton residents, while at the same time recognizing the critical relationship between what we pay in taxes and the value of services we receive. We are indeed fortunate to have people like John serve in public office. I urge you to re-elect John Kalamarides to the Board of Finance.
Richard J. Dubow
State Sen. Boucher Supports Vanderslice
People wake up when there is a presidential election but often overlook our local races that affect our quality of life, schools and property taxes. Terrific Wilton Republican candidates have stepped up and put themselves on the line to run for us and our communities on Election Day. I support them wholeheartedly and thank them for coming forward. It is so easy to especially endorse Lynne Vanderslice for the position of first selectman. Lynne has worked hard and been a leader on the Board of Finance and is right person at the right time to take on the formidable job of addressing Wilton‘s fiscal challenges. Her depth of experience and capabilities make her the best choice and will be getting my vote on Nov. 3.
Toni Boucher
Boucher ‘Enthusiastically’ Endorses Kaelin
I have worked with Mike Kaelin for more than 20 years, and I enthusiastically endorse him for the Board of Selectmen. Mike has worked with me for more than 20 years to help make Wilton a better place, and he has become one of my most trusted advisors. Mike does not believe in throwing money at problems to solve them, and he is keenly aware of how tax and spend policies hurt all of us.
He is a great proponent of private enterprise and personal charity. He is an accomplished attorney with the highest peer ratings for ethics and professional skills, and has given back much locally and statewide. He served as president and vice president of the Wilton Library, and on its finance committee for eight years. Mike and his wife, Carol, were awarded the Wilton Family Y’s Distinguished Citizen Award this past May based upon the many and varied contributions they made to our community over the past 20 years, and Mike received a Community Service Award from Connecticut Legal Services in October 2014 for the charitable work he has done for them statewide.
Wilton is at a crossroads. We cannot continue to raise taxes to maintain our quality of life in Wilton. We need Mike’s leadership to take us in a different direction. Please join me in voting for him on Nov. 3.
Toni Boucher
Newest Selectman Dartley Backs Vanderslice and Kaelin
Connecticut is a great place to live and raise a family. In January it will be 40 years since we moved to Wilton. I certainly remember the days of 8- and 10-percent tax increases. Wilton needs to continue to grow to meet the needs of all of its citizens, young and senior.
I firmly believe that by electing Mike Kaelin and Lynne Vanderslice we will have the right stuff to meet the challenges of the future. Much has changed in the past 40 years but I can assure you that with a forward looking team like Lynne and Mike, CT and Wilton will continue to be a great place to live.
Lynne has recent and extensive experience right here in Wilton with seven years on the Board of Finance and can quote chapter and verse on the town’s finances. She also has 20 years of volunteer leadership in Wilton. Mike has been a leader at the Wilton Library, which is one of Wilton’s greatest assets, as well as the Historical Society, to mention just a few, and knows what is needed to maintain the wonderful Wilton lifestyle. Both are long time, involved people who care about the quality of life in Wilton.
I urge all to vote and vote for Lynne Vanderslice and Mike Kaelin.
Ken Dartley
BoF Chair Serenbetz Endorses Vanderslice for First Selectman
I have served with Lynne Vanderslice on the Board of Finance for seven-plus years. For six of those years she served as vice-chairman on the board. While on the board her record of leadership and teamwork to constrain tax and expense growth and increase transparency stands for itself.
As chairman I came to rely not only on her financial expertise but also on her willingness to attack a problem to not only identify the issues but also to provide solutions. For example, Lynne developed analytical tools to facilitate understanding of the budgets by other boards and the public. Lynne took a key role in informing the public with regard to board activities, including making presentations to the public, PTA and Wilton Library. Most recently, Lynne took the lead in reviewing Wilton Public Schools’ Policies and Procedures, which resulted in improvements to internal controls.
Moving forward, if you have any doubt that Lynne understands the issues facing Wilton and has ideas to address them, one need only look at the issues section of her website. I believe Lynne is uniquely qualified to lead the effort to meet the challenges facing Wilton. She has a diverse mix of government, professional and community experience on which to draw and has demonstrated her ability to achieve success. I strongly support Lynne and ask you to vote for her leadership.
Warren Serenbetz
Longtime A Better Chance of Wilton Board Member Jane Lee Backs Vanderslice
I worked with Lynne Vanderslice for many years on the board of A Better Chance of Wilton. She has the right mix of leadership and experience to be Wilton’s next first selectman.
As president, Lynne guided the Board through one of our most significant decisions⎯the acquisition and renovation of the boys’ home on Cannon Rd.. She began the process by providing a document detailing the relevant facts and information. She then led meetings where each member was encouraged to express their thoughts and concerns eventually leading us to a consensus on the decision. She repeated this same approach during another difficult board-wide decision⎯facts, sharing of thoughts and consensus building.
During the scholar selection, which I chaired, I was particularly struck by Lynne’s keen insight and the value she added to the quality of the decisions made by the committee.
I also saw first hand how Lynne, when committed to something, gives it her all. She went well beyond a typical board member in her support of the students, hosting them and friends at her home, providing guidance and support while they were in college and to this day attending graduations and weddings.
Twice ABC recognized Lynne for the major impact she had on the program, first in dedicating the Godfrey Pl. home to her and builder Walter Smith, and second by honoring her at the organization’s 10-year gala.
Just as Lynne earned those honors, her years of service to the community in several organizations has earned your vote.
Jane Lee
Former First Selectman Robert Russell Recommends Kaelin
I heartily endorse Mike Kaelin for reelection to the Board of Selectmen. Mike recognizes the challenges facing the Selectmen. He has the ideas and skills to address the balancing act of providing all necessary services while controlling the tax rate, not an easy thing to do, as it requires support from a number of other Town boards.
Mike was a valuable member of the Wilton Library Board for eight years, including two years as president, and served on the Charter Commission in 2009, at which time Wilton agreed to retain our traditional Town Meeting form of government.
Robert Russell
Weston First Selectman Gayle Weinstein Endorses McFadden
The following was sent as a press release from the McFadden campaign.
As surrounding town leadership rallies in regional support of Deb McFadden for Wilton first selectman, the latest endorsement comes from Weston’s first selectman Gayle Weinstein. Her statement follows:
“I have had the pleasure of knowing Deb McFadden for the past five years. Over that time, we have had many conversations regarding the challenges that confront our local communities. Deb has always offered fresh ideas and a unique perspective. Wilton will be fortunate to benefit from Deb’s passion and energy as first selectman.
“Deb knows how to build relationships and make connections. Her work in a major municipal environment required working with all constituencies, bringing people and organizations together, and marshalling collaborative responses that resulted in sustainable progress. This skill set is critical in response to the desire of residents to better manage the balance between taxes and services, encourage economic development, and generate greater involvement within the community.
“Wilton has a wonderful opportunity to take a leap forward by voting for Deb. As the first selectman of Weston, I am eager to work with Deb on opportunities common to our towns.”
BoS Member Dubow Urges Voters to Support Bray
Gil Bray’s corporate experience and leadership in finance, sales, customer service and quality assurance, along with his current and previous community service – Board of Education, Energy Commission, Congregational Church and Wilton Family Y – make him the ideal candidate to serve on the Board of Selectman. His understanding of local issues and how town government works will make him a forceful champion for economic development and a persuasive voice for maintaining the proper balance between cost containment and quality services. I urge all Wilton voters to go to the polls on Nov. 3 and elect Gil Bray to the Board of Selectman.
Richard J. Dubow
Former First Selectman Paul Hannah Supports Kalamarides
I write in support of John Kalamarides for the Board of Finance.
John was appointed to fill a vacated seat on the board in July, 2014. He has distinguished himself as a calming and reasonable voice on a Finance Board which was showing signs of dysfunction.
John moved to Wilton in 1982, and his three children all graduated from Wilton High School. Consequently, he understands the needs of the schools and can balance those needs against the necessity to keep costs in line. As the Board of Finance designee on the Miller-Driscoll building committee, John is on top of what is the largest building project in the Town’s history. He knows that excellence in education is important, but that it does not have to be gold plated.
Prior to going on the Board of Finance, John had been chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, managing the feat of sending a member of that party to Hartford as State Representative, the first time in many years.
A successful financial executive in his business life, John will continue to bring reason and calm to the Board of Finance.
I urge his election Nov. 3.
Paul Hannah