CT Post Covers Forum: Stratford Mayoral Hopefuls Face Off

STRATFORD -- Topics ranging from the Shakespeare Theater to school test scores and controlling taxes were on the table Tuesday, as the town's four mayoral candidates squared off in a debate that grew heated at times.

More than 100 people attended the approximately 90-minute debate, co-sponsored by the Old Stratford Neighborhood Association and Save Stratford, held in the Christ Episcopal Church parish house on Main Street and moderated by Sheldon Gerarden.

Questions posed to candidates probed the "bickering" among city leaders, economic development in town, the concept of an expansion at Sikorsky Memorial Airport and especially the long-shuttered theater.

Incumbent James R. Miron, the town's first mayor, is seeking a second four-year term and stressed the town's upgraded bond rating and budget surpluses for three consecutive years under his leadership.

Republican challenger John Harkins, a state representative for the past 13 years, accused Miron of nepotism and deceptive dealings, which he said have been the brunt of comments from leaders in Hartford and elsewhere.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we've been a laughingstock," Harkins said. "That's what I'm looking to change. I'm here to fire this mayor. He hires political allies and friends and then backs away. Morale is low. We need sunshine. If I'm elected mayor, the buck stops here, with me. I will work every day to restore the public trust in government."

Harkins also said Miron has never taken responsibility for his missteps and has been a polarizing presence in town. Miron countered that candidates say many things while campaigning, but not all of them are true.

"Stratford is better today than it was four years ago," he said. "This is a town where people love living. I think I deserve another opportunity. I don't think the town can afford to (fire me). We've got to stay the course with the strong leadership and proven results that I've provided."

Members of the Republican-majority Town Council "have played Whack-a-mole with me as the mayor every time they got a chance," he added. "I think the new Town Council ... will be starting with the right people for moving this town forward."

Miron said Harkins was unaware of many details, and reliant on campaign workers to give him talking points.

Independent candidate Domenic Costello, a successful small businessman who funds the majority of his own campaign, said he'd focus on being the people's voice, after gaining a "consensus" from locals by holding regular meetings and hearing from them.

"I have no political agenda," he said. "I do it because of you, the people. I could make a difference for you."

George Mulligan, another independent, said news reports and politicians have been ignoring the big issues, which include contracts, lawyers who are "milking" the town and unfunded pensions.

"There's a pension tsunami that's going to happen," he warned. "I'm trying to bring facts out to people who really don't pay attention to local politics."

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Mayoral Candidates Forum a Success

Gentlemanly attitudes and gracious smiles turned to heated discussions and accusations between some of the Mayoral candidates at Tuesday evening's standing-room-only OSNA Mayoral Forum at Christ Church. With the clear edge on the lay-of-the-land in both the Historic District of town and the overall neighborhood, incumbent James Miron set his feet and took some harsh blows from the other Mayoral candidates. Republican candidate State Representative John Harkins (R-120) lashed out at Miron for his mailings regarding Harkins’ stance on the Shakespeare/Hanney contract, saying he never said he would sign that contract. And that that campaigning is misleading and a lie.

We saw retail politics at its best last night though. Jim Miron extolled the virtues of his first four years as our first mayor; John Harkins told the crowd of the negative reasons he joined this race, how he had been asked to run before. However, after speaking to a friend, he had to commit to the race. He stated “People hate their Town, and want to move out.” Dom Costello talked about how politics in the town doesn’t work with the two-party system and how it’s time for an independent voice. And George Mulligan explained our overspending on the town pensions.
Harkins was unclear with his vision on the Shakespeare Theater; while Miron and Costello are clear to get rid of Hanney and begin anew with the contract work.

Attacks were aimed against Miron all evening, but none of the other candidates seemed to give any elements of why they would a better leader for our Town. No one except Miron told how they would change things to make it better. There was a clear attacking of the incumbent instead of the others showing their strength; the voters know what doesn’t work. The question remained: what will these other candidates do for the taxpayers?

Overall Miron has become the first mayor, and has molded himself with the freshly made genre of the new town charter bringing Stratford into the future. Even as far as quoting Ronald Reagan: “Are we better now than we were four years ago?” Harkins tried to convince people they are not happy, and the town needs help and he’s the State Lawmaker who can do it. Costello wants to listen to, and work for the people. And, George Mulligan, "town gadfly," wanted to simply educate the Town on hidden agendas.

Miron told the group how he grew up in the Historic area and in Stratford. He told the gathering of his love for his hometown and his desire to lead for another four years. John Harkins, on the other hand, praised the Save Stratford group for their work and told the group how he loved the Paradise Green area of Town. (Did he forget who was hosting last night’s forum?!)

Thank you from OSNA and Save Shakespeare to all the candidates who participated in this event. Special thanks to all the OSNA officers and members who helped at the Forum; especially Shelly Gerarden for moderating and Ann Jackson for timekeeping.

OSNA Mayoral Candidates Forum: October 20th, 7:30pm

The Old Stratford Neighborhood Association (OSNA), in conjunction with the group Save Shakespeare, will host a Mayoral Candidates Forum. The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20 in the parish house of Christ Episcopal Church, 2000 Main Street.

Democratic incumbent James Miron, Republican primary winner John Harkins and independent candidates Dom Costello and George Mulligan have all accepted invitations to participate.

“The Old Stratford Neighborhood has traditionally been engaged in the civic life of our town,” said OSNA President Michael Bingham. “Our members and neighbors count on our neighborhood group to help them the information they need to make important decisions about issue confronting our neighborhood and our community. Our Candidates Forum is an important part of that mission.”

The event, which will be moderated by Sheldon Gerarden, is free and open to the public.

Square One Theater Celebrates 20th Anniversary

SQUARE ONE THEATRE Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary with Charles Grodin’s The Right Kind of People, A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters and Helen Edmundson’s The Clearing

Celebrating the milestone of its 20th Anniversary, Square One Theatre’s Artistic Director Tom Holehan has announced that its 2009-2010 Season will feature Charles Grodin’s all-too-real comedy of bad manners, The Right Kind of People; A.R. Gurney’s funny and touching Love Letters and Helen Edmundson’s stirring and riveting Irish drama, The Clearing.

For ticket reservations and/or information call 203.375.8778 or visit: www.squareonetheatre.com

Army Engine Plant Sale Gets Green Light

The Connecticut Post reports: A federal judge gave the green light Monday for the sale of the Army Engine Plant to Hollywood East and the transfer of a nearby acre of land to Bridgeport and the Federal Aviation Administration for the extension of a safety zone at Sikorsky Memorial Airport.

Senior U.S. District Judge Charles S. Haight Jr. lifted his April-imposed stays and denied what some say was a desperate political attempt by Stratford Republicans to throw a wrench into the impending sale. That attempt surfaced in the form of a motion to intervene filed by Kevin Kelly and Garrett A. Denniston on behalf of the Stratford Water Pollution Control Authority, which claims a portion of their sanitary sewer system would be rendered inaccessible if Bridgeport receives the acre.

Stratford Mayor James Miron agreed the effort was "without question a political attempt by (Stratford's) Republican leadership to obstruct the progress we have made at all costs. Thankfully, it didn't work."

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