The Municipal Election of 2013 is over. Except for the two Council seats in Ward 5, all elective offices in New Britain have been certified. Before the election, Herald Staff Writer, Robert Storace prepared profiles of the candidates using information gathered from answers to questions he posed during personal interviews. This article will concern itself only with comments made in their profiles by candidates for Common Council that were successful in retaining seats and further, their thoughts on their votes for the 2013-2014 Budget of Former Mayor Tim O’Brien. Although former Aldermen Rha Sheen Brown, Tobias Freeman and Larry Hermanowski ran for office, their comments are not included. (No longer on the Council)
O’Brien slate Common Council candidates: (alphabetical order)
Suzanne Bielinski - a strong supporter of O’Brien and voted for his budget, she spoke mostly about her dedication to the Public Safety Departments.
Shirley Black - one of her proudest votes on the Council was voting for the Mayor’s (O’Brien) budget. He (O’Brien) did not raise taxes.
Carlo Carlozzi - voted against passing the 2013 - 2014 budget . His seat in Ward 5 has yet to be settled.
Roy Centeno - A strong supporter of Mayor O’Brine’s policies, Centeno said voting for the Mayor’s (O’Brien) $237 million dollar budget was the vote he’s most proud of. His seat in Ward 5 has yet to be settled.
Tonilynn Collins - She is proud to have supported Mayor O’Brine’s budget and his bonding for textbooks.
David DeFronzo - ... strongly supported Mayor O’Brien’s budget , also ... bonding for textbooks, etc.
Eva Magnuszewski - ... she was “proud” to support the Mayor’s (O’Brien) budget and several bonding proposals.
Adam Platosz - Voted yes on O’Brien’s budget but against bonding for textbooks; the general budget he said was fair. We did not, he said as some people are screaming, raise taxes, in fact, he said, voting for the budget was one of his proudest.
Manny Sanchez - generally supported O’Brien’s and polices; nothing to say about budgeting although he voted for the budget. His proudest Council vote ; he was one of few Council Democrats to vote in favor of COSTCO when Tim Stewart was Mayor!
Mike Trueworthy - A strong supporter of Mayor O’Brien and proud of voting yes on O’Brien’s $237.5 million dollar budget.
Erin Stewart slate candidates:
Jamie Giantonio - Voted against O’Brien’s budget for 2013 - 2014.
Wilfredo Pabon - strong supporter of the Police Department and Chief Wardwell Though he voted for the budget, he does not support O’Brien’s reelection and will not support his slate. Pabon is a strong supporter of Mayoral candidate, Erin Stewart. She’ll return transparency to City Hall.
As the weeks go by more information will be exposed as to the shoddy budgeting practices of the O’Brien administration and those on the Council that supported these practices blindly. In addition, New Britain residents will learn more about the largesse heaped on O’Brien’s “cronies” with their no show, no product jobs they held. Much still has to be learned and exposed about lucrative raise given to certain City Hall personnel. The ten remnants of the O’Brien administration still on the Council will never change ... time will prove this correct. People of New Britain, don’t allow this travesty to continue, use your vote for positive change. Considering that the 10 remaining O’Brien Democrats have already hired Larry Hermanowski and Jessica Gerratana for Council positions, it appears they will continue with their practices of cronyism and nepotism. Do you really want people like these ten Democrats representing you in New Britain? Vote for freedom!
Will the Democrats pay for door knockers for the fifth district Court ordered Election?
ReplyDeleteWhy not, they paid each door knocker $250 for the last election, didn't they?
ReplyDeleteSome of O'Brien's lawn signs were old from a previous election. There is no way O'Brien spent $45,000 on lawn signs, a mailing and a photo shoot. Hardly any O'Brien lawn signs were visible and of the ones that were many were old style.
ReplyDeleteAnd now, Jessica Gerratana, Greg's wife is receiving a salary from the NB Common Council engineered by her aunt, Alderwoman Suzanne Bielinski and Mayor Pro Tem, Mike Trueworthy. And she owns the company that made O'Brien's signs? Isn't that criminal?
Surely, O'Brien didn't pay for the puff pieces given to him free by The Herald.
Can any of this fiasco be considered criminal?"
Will the public be told that Centeno regularly doesn't pay his taxes until it becomes public that he is delinquent again?
ReplyDeleteTo: Anonymous # 3
ReplyDeleteYou said, "And now, Jessica Gerratana, Greg's wife is receiving a salary from the NB Common Council engineered by her aunt, Alderwoman Suzanne Bielinski and Mayor Pro Tem, Mike Trueworthy. And she owns the company that made O'Brien's signs? Isn't that criminal?"
There will be more to come in the near future regarding this hire by Bielinski and Trueworthy. Nobody should be surprised !