FRANKSMITHSAYSNB EDITORIAL:
If you believe Phil Sherwood's rhetoric, Candelori simply made a mistake 20 years ago and should be forgiven, but the story goes much deeper than that.
Without getting into who did what in the organization, Candelori was a player in the infamous Colonial Realty scam, a scam that cost thousands an estimated $350 million in investments, and cost many their life savings, and even forced many into bankrupcy.
Many of the prinicples of Colonial Realty were convicted in federal court of various charges. Dr. Candelori himself pled guilty in federal court to income tax evasion, for what the New York Times reported as his failure to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal income. Does this sound to you like someone who simply made a mistake?
The Securities and Exchange Commission didn't think so when they permanently barred Dr. Candelori from associating with virtually anyone involved in the investment field and bonding industry. Now we are told that his past should be forgiven because he has turned his life around, but as the editor points out today in The Herald, Dr. Candelori is currently a defendent in a civil case that The Day of New London reported involves another real estate investment scheme--this time the propoerty allegedly was used to secure a loan that the former Chairman of the Mashantucket Tribal Nation told the Court was used to bribe him. Of important note is that some of his co-defendants in this same case are the same cohorts Candelori was associated with in Colonial Realty.
And now Phil Sherwood, the self proclaimed Czar of Ethics, would have you believe that this leopard has changed his spots, but has he--especially if he is currently involved in a civil case that involves other former players of the Colonial Realty scheme?
This appointment involves a man who, as Chairman of the Mattabassett District will have contol of more than $100 million of taxpayer dollars.
Has this man earned your trust, to be trusted with such a large sum of your money?
The record would suggest not.
The Mayor has done the right thing and vetoed this appointment. The City Council should do the right thing and listen to the public, the leaders of the other member towns and now even the Editors of The New Britain Herald, who believe the right action on their part is to let this veto stand.
5 comments:
"I am of a sect by myself, as far as I know. When I am led by conversation to express my sentiments, I do it with the same independence here which I have practiced everywhere, and which is inseparable from my nature. I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction, is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all. "
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Jim Sanders Jr, nice job Frank. All I can say is time will tell. It will be interesting!
Frank,
No one seems to want get seek a comment from Mr. Manafort or Mr. Tomasso about how they feel about their Majority Leader likening them both to Candelori.
I'm sure they must be proud of Sherwood for that one!
Apparently the authors of the city charter didn't believe a felon was acceptable to serve in such a capacity, or they wouldn't have written this language into the charter:
Section 7-1 (h) of the charter provides that the Mayor may initiate proceedings to remove a member of any appointive board or Commission for any of the following reasons:...(3) conviction of a felony, (4) conviction of a misdemeanor which would undermine the public confidence in the member's ability to perform the duties of office. Since we know from previous reports, that Dr. Candelori has pleaded guilty in federal court to federal income tax evasion, for reportedly failing to report hundreds of thousands of dollars of income, how can anyone be serious about appointing such a person to such a high level position? (According to the New York Times: "...William P. Candelori, a former state lawmaker and executive at Colonial, pleaded guilty to Federal tax evasion for failing to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in income." (2 Partners In Investment Plead Guilty, The New York Times, Jume 9, 1993).
But, we all know of Sherwood's record for ignoring the charter when it comes to his fellow Democrats. I believe he has proven sufficiently through his actions and statements that he is only the Czar of Ethics when it involves a Republican, and he apparently believes Democrats are above the law. If you don't believe me, ask Catazanro what he thinks?
Anonymous said...
It is very sad that the DEMOCRATS on our city council members just don't get it.
So the tax payers are the ones to get royally screwed.
December 12, 2009 5:57 PM
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