2004 Elections: ROSA Endorses Frey for State Rep; Ellison for State Senate
The Ridgefield Open Space Association Elections Committee is pleased to announce our endorsements for State Representative (111th District) and State Senate (26th District).
We are gratified that both seats were contested this year - a healthy democracy demands that the voters have a choice, and that incumbents do not succumb to complacency.
Our endorsements are based solely on environmental issues; our candidates' questionnaire (viewable at www.rosaopenspace.org) addressed the topics of traffic, air quality, wetlands protection, open space preservation and urban sprawl.
State Representative
Both candidates, incumbent Republican John Frey and his challenger, Democrat Randall Balmer, share our view that open space preservation is imperative in our increasingly congested state, and are committed to increased funding at the state level for these purchases.
Both believe that our wetlands need further protection, and efforts must be made to improve the quality of our air and water.
Yet, John Frey is the candidate with a track record. Bennett's Pond was arguably the biggest environmental issue the town has faced in a decade or more, and the use of eminent domain was controversial and opposed by many in his party.
Mr. Frey publicly supported us, from day one, in 1999 when the battle to save Bennett's Pond began. He provided moral support for our cause and was unwavering in his efforts to convince the State to participate through their 50% funding. He demonstrated leadership and political courage in taking on the Bennett's Pond cause. He didn't do it because it was expedient (it was not); he did it because he believed it was the right thing to do for the town.
Mr. Frey's environmental voting record, while not perfect, was an admirable 90% in 2004, according to the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters. He voted correctly on all of the major environmental measures that came before the legislature this session and co-sponsored several of them.
We believe that Dr. Balmer is an intelligent, educated and articulate candidate, but he did not rise to the level of earning our support over the incumbent. We wholeheartedly support Representative John Frey for another term.
State Senate
This race is also contested for the first time in recent memory. We support the challenger Arlo Ellison for State Senate.
Mr. Ellison, a Democrat, shares our vision of stronger environmental protection, smart growth, and open space preservation.
The Republican incumbent, Mrs. Freedman, seems out of touch with her constituents and has shown little interest in Ridgefield's environmental concerns. We believe it's time for a change in the 26th District, and endorse Mr. Ellison for State Senate.
2003 Elections: ROSA Elections Committee Makes Endorsements
Board of Selectmen
The ROSA Elections Committee is pleased to endorse for re-election three members of the Board of Selectmen: Peter Yanity (R), Steve Zemo (D) and Barbara Manners (D).
While these three individuals don’t share party affiliation, they do share an abiding love for our town, a willingness to form coalitions to achieve important goals, and a deep sense of the importance of community service. All three have steadfastly supported ROSA's efforts.
Although running unopposed, Democrat Rudy Marconi is arguably the hardest working First Selectman we have had in recent memory, and his enthusiasm is reflected in a solid record of accomplishment. He deserves another term in office.
Due to minority party representation rules, only two Democrats may be elected to the Board, in addition to Mr. Marconi. Therefore, we encourage all voters who share our vision to vote only for Mr. Zemo and Ms. Manners on the Democrats’ line, and for Dr. Yanity on the Republicans’ line. A vote for Mr. Heyman (a Democrat outspokenly opposed to ROSA's efforts) could eliminate either Mr. Zemo or Ms. Manners.
Board of Finance
The Board of Finance is a deeply troubled body, with a poorly defined mandate and procedures designed to minimize public input. All four candidates promise to bring fresh thinking and renewed accountability to the Board. Of the four, Mike Jones is a standout. Mr. Jones, one of ROSA's earliest and most effective supporters, possesses solid business credentials as well as a demonstrated concern for our issues. We wholeheartedly endorse him.
2001 Candidate's Forum
The ROSA Election Committee submitted several questions to candidates for the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance and Planning and Zoning Board. Click on the 2001 Candidate's Forum link in the left column to see the questions and the candidate's answers.
Eureka V fails to obtain approvals in Ridgefield or Danbury
At a special meeting on August 29, the Danbury Environmental Impact Commission (EIC) voted 5-0 to deny Eureka’s wetlands application for the construction of an access road to their proposed Ridgefield subdivision. ROSA intervened in this application, and organized public testimony to counter that of Eureka’s hired professionals. In this successful effort, we received considerable help from fellow open space advocates in Danbury and Bethel.
At an unprecedented August 30 meeting of the Ridgefield P&Z/Inland Wetlands Board (this Commission/Board is normally in recess in the month of August), the Board members voted to draft a notice of denial on Eureka’s wetlands application that would have enabled them to construct a massive "loop" road through the northern parcel of the Bennett’s Pond property. This loop road was presented as necessary to access their proposed 10-lot subdivision, but the applicant testified that in fact it was sized to accommodate substantial additional development on the balance of the land. However, no details of the impacts of this additional development were disclosed in the application beyond the 10-lot residential subdivision. The final resolution of denial will be discussed and voted on September 4. ROSA also intervened in this application, organized public testimony, and utilized the services of our attorneys Peter Cooper and Frank Cochran. The IWB successfully utilized their new regulation that allowed them to hire outside experts to review Eureka’s application at the applicant’s expense. Fuss & O’Neill, (consulting engineers) and their subcontractors found many errors, inconsistencies and shortcomings in Eureka’s application. This report provided the Board with important additional expert testimony upon which to make their decision to deny the application.
The Latest Threat
True to form, following the denials by the wetlands boards of both Danbury and Ridgefield, Eureka made good on its threat to invoke the state’s affordable housing law (C.G.S. 8-30g) on the Bennett’s Pond property. On Friday, September 4, they submitted an application for 700 units of residential development, including a 30% "affordable" component. Large developers such as Eureka have been known to use this law to break local zoning regulations, and Eureka has threatened to do so since late January when they submitted a "concept plan" map depicting such a possible development.
However, this is not about affordable housing. This is about Ridgefield’s effort, and our right, to protect the future of our community, against Eureka’s relentless attempts to break the zoning on the land — zoning they were fully aware of at the time they purchased the property in 1998.
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