Republicans Descend Into Personal Attacks Over Board of Education Seat
A Common Council vote to appoint Republican Leslie Jacobs to fill a vacancy on the Board of Education has prompted a veto by Mayor Timothy Stewart and a torrent of attacks by Republicans. In his veto message, Stewart referred to Jacobs as "flippant" and "arrogant" but cited no votes or actions by Jacobs as a school board member to oppose her nomination. Jacobs has previous experience on the BOE but has long since fallen out of favor with her party's leadership.
Dismayed that the GOP's hand-picked recommendation, Jamie Giantonio, was not accepted by the Council, Republican leaders have denounced the Council move to replace Marilyn Kraczkowsky, a controversial Republican member of the BOE, who resigned earlier this year.
Jacobs and Council Democrats have been the target of personal attacks and harsh words from Republican Chair Paul Carver and others. Derogatory comments have been posted anonymously on local blogs, including one threat of violence against City Alderman Phil Sherwood.
Democratic Town Chair John McNamara criticized the Mayor's veto message for claiming Democrats are putting partisanship ahead of city schools and children. He also faulted the tone and content of the Republican attacks as "mean spirited", "divisive" and nothing more than the tactics of "schoolyard bullies."
The Council is exercising its judgment and responsibility in accordance with the city charter, according to McNamara. "The Mayor and Republican Chair Carver should make their arguments on the merits of their candidate, and not engage in partisan attacks on members of the City Council and Ms. Jacobs," said McNamara.
"This is the same Republican Party that nominated as their local standard bearer this year Tom Bozek for State Senate, a candidate who suggested that New Britain should downsize its schools by reducing the number of school children by 4,000 through draconian anti-family policies." McNamara said the record of the Mayor and Carver on education and addressing the school district's fiscal challenges has been "abysmal" over the last two years. "If I were a member of the City Council concerned about the quality of education the last person of either party that I would pick would be a rubber stamp for the Mayor," said McNamara.
32 comments:
Mr. McNamara, the truth hurts doesn't it? Perhaps the mayor couldn't cite any votes because Ms. Jacobs wasn't present enough to have partaken in too many votes.
Jim Sanders, former President of the Board of Education testified at the council hearing you referred to in your letter that Ms. Jacobs only showed up for about 60% of the meetings. Perhaps if she bothered to show up to all of the meetings, the mayor would have had a few examples to cite.
This is just another example of the Democrats creating smoke and mirrors to hide the real fact and that is that this person has already shown she is ill prepared to serve the children of this city.
Our children deserve better. You should be ashamed of yourself.
The Chairman of the New Britain DTC Mr.McNamara should resign his seat...he has stacked the DTC membership with his plantation liberals...he has established a Democrats plantation party system into New Britain politicals...he is anti-business... and The New Britain Progressive Blogspot has launches their new Blogspot while John McNamara is over hauling his old Website...where is Spazeboy a.k.a. Beau Anderson?
Mr. Mcnamara should be told that he is part of the problem and not part of the solution. He is the one who controls who, in his opinion, is worthy of a nomination for an elected position. He fails.
When he called Mrs. Kraczkowsky controversial, is it because she got rid of the BOE Christmas party for all of the Board and their significant others and the top paid administrators and their significant others or because she rallied against the $20,000 and more paid for executive board meeting dinners? Or was it because she fought to keep the budget down and fought for the best candidates for administrators positions? Heh! What part of her controversity did you not like? You are used to people whom you can control. She did not fit this mold. Jacobs will.
sounds like McNamara is losing control rapidly.
Speaking of out of control spending. Several people have in passing informed me that the BOE
offices on West Main Street are priveledged to enjoy extravagant
catered lunches on a regular basis.
Who is approving this spending?
The Question asked by Anonymous:
Speaking of out of control spending. Several people have in passing informed me that the BOE
offices on West Main Street are privileged to enjoy extravagant
catered lunches on a regular basis.
Who is approving this spending?
The answer is simple:
The Board of Education Board Members so they can eat well prior to their Board of Education meetings.
John McNamara, get a grip!! Don't blame the Republicans for Leslie Jacobs' questionable reputation. Like you, her reputation precedes her. Get out there and listen to who is furious with Trueworthy, Sherwood, and Catanzaro...it's the parents, most who don't have any political aspirations. Leave Bozek out of it...he should have left your Gestapo committee years ago.
Spazeboy is Sherwood's puppy, isn't he?
McNamara's message reads like that last ditch effort of someone who knows he has lost his power.
When McNamara speaks, no one listens!
Mr. McNamara, as a parent and taxpayer in this city I am outraged at the recent vote to appoint Ms. Jacobs back to the BOE.
I attended the last council meeting
after reading that a select group of democrats had solicited her in an effort to reject the republican
town committee's nominee. I am a registered republican and although
the political plays on the council
disappoint me, the concern is with
the person chosen. I had clearly remembered Ms. Jacobs, a republican, and her unfavorable record on the board. When she did not get re-nominated to the post there was alot of "drama". I came to the council meeting to appeal to our council members to please consider their vote carefully and to put politial slinging aside. I came with the hope that an intelligent decision would be made and that our elected officials could make the right decision for the children of The City Of New Britain. The council failed our children miserably. Out in the community, whether your speaking with parents or teachers or para-professionals the moral in the school system and with it's administration is at an all time low. The recent negative
situations on the BOE have escalated the problem and your members on the council are responsible for fueling it. Your members had an opportunity to be above the bickering and could have really made in-roads to show their
concern and care for our kids. If they wanted to raise their political position amongst voters, this was their opportunity
to do so. The Mayor's veto has opened the door again for them to
do the right thing. I do not believe that all 13 democratic council members agree with the Leslie Jacobs appointment. If there
is bullying going on,it is taking place in your closed door democratic chamber.
Sally Eigenraam
Parent
The Council is exercising its judgment and responsibility in accordance with the city charter, according to McNamara.
I find it laughable that Mr McNamara is saying that the council is using judgement and responsibility. How does someone make a responsible decision without weighing both options? I was NEVER contacted by ANY of the Democratic council members. Not only was I not contacted, but after the last council meeting, I was told by 3 of the council members that i NEVER had a chance and was NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED.
If you are reading this blog, and are unhappy by the way this is going down- PLEASE, come to the council meeting tomorrow and let them know. 7PM City Hall- Council Chambers.
"I was told by 3 of the council members that i NEVER had a chance and was NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED."
Jamie, lets be honest here. You asked the three council members what they were thinking when they recessed for caucus after the public participation showed strong support for you. You expressed that you though at the time we might be reconsidering our positions in the caucus. It was to that the council members stated, "you didn't have the votes."
Do NOT twist our conversation with you to suit and feed into the negative slamming, personal threats, and threats of violence coming from some.
You are a good person, qualified to be on the board as is Leslie Jacobs.
I heard form one of the aldermen that the Democratic leadership dictated to all the Democrats that they were to vote for Jacobs weeks before this council meeting was ever held, so who is lying now Mr. Alderman? Must be a posting by the infamous Mr. Sherwood as it sounds like something he would say, but clearly it is from a Democratic Alderman who is not happy about the truth coming out.
To the anonymous Alderman- I am not trying to twist anything that was said to me that night. I said to you all "be honest with me -the fact that I never called any of you did not matter. Had I called it would not have mattered since I never had a chance" The answer to that was "YES- it would not have mattered. " I dont think there is any misunderstanding or twisting there.
On the way out that night after the meeting - i asked another council member if I was ever really even considered and whether I truly ever had a chance, the answer- "NO COMMENT"....what do you think that means?
i am sorry that this issue has brought out the slamming and threats, that was never my intention. All I want to do here is get involved, get on the BOE and make sure that the school system is the best it can be
Finally, one of them admits that Mr. Giantonio is qualified to sit on the BOE! Now lets get on with appointing him and move forward.
Enough already.
Just more crooked politics as usual. Frank, you should have used a picture of a clown for this one, because the current council is a 3 ring circus, and it is the children who are about to get screwed.
Any Common Council Member who thinks that Leslie Jacobs is qualified to be on the BOE should not be on the Council for lack of good judgment. She has already had a dismal term on the board. She is not an educator. She is not a parent. She could never hold a job. She could not get a man. She has no core values. She is a political whore. The BOE has enough weak people on there. Don't add to it. Jamie G. would be a refreshing change. Please don't lump him in the same category as Jacobs.
Sounds like someone who knows what a crackpot Jacobs is. The only reason she is even being considered is because she is a puppet for another crackpot named Sherwood.
Let us talk about the elephant in the middle of the room! Jamie Giantonio, a very worthy candidate for the vacancy on the BOE is the son in law of Pete Steele who works for the mayor.
There in lies the problem. The democrats do not care or some of them do not understand that a person should be qualified for that position. It is not fun and games. They do what John McNamara tells them or they won't be nominated again and will lose their $3,000 plus a year for sitting there at meetings making no contributions.
This is New Britain. This once proud city deserves better politicians. The only way that we can improve is to get rid of long time, controlling John McNamara. Who has the guts to start that movement? Ot are you all wimps?
Amen. It's about time right-thinking Democrats got rid of that McNamara.
He says he's not related to the former autocratic Mayor but I am not so sure. :)
All these council Democrats seem to care about is "what's in it for me?"
Ald. Catanzero. You won't resign from HRA board because they finance your vacations every year. you are the lowest of the low.
Maybe Mr. McNamara should come to the meeting on Wednesday night to see just how unpopular his candidate for the Board of Ed is.
By the way, am I the only one that sees a problem with the Democratic Town Chairman trying to "call the shots" over the appointment of a Republican?
What would McNamara have to say if Paul Carver (Republican Town Chairman) were organizing an appointment to a Democratic position, and he was rigging the appointment of a puppet who would dance to whatever dance Carver and his followers wanted?
At some point in time the Mayor and his aides need to stop politicking and begin governing.
A good deal of the problem here is ,as Cool Hand Luke would say, a failure to communicate.
Unfortunately, the Mayor, egged on by extremists such as Carver and Salvio, has refused to engage Council leadership in any meaningful discussions for a long time, preferring name calling and government by press release. Even some Republicans are upset with this autorcratic style.
How about it Mr. Mayor? Let's have some "open office hours" with the people you are supposed to be governing with.
I think this BOE seat was FOR SALE haha Leslie Jacobs paid for it. She couldn't keep it or get re-elected to it so she bought it. Political seats are prime real
estate in country right now starting right in New Britain at the Board of Education.
Some one in authority should check the HUD records to see how many of Catanzaro's relatives have been helped. I do not mean the down and outers, but those who own homes, drive cars and have jobs. Start with his niece!
Maybe, we know only the tip of the iceberg. And he wants to run for mayor....bring him on...
You go Paul! We are all hoping to see your endorsment from the DTC to run for mayor.
The actions of these Democrats on the council would make one wonder if that previous message on here from "Anonymous" has hit the nail on the head.
The way these Aldermen are willing to outrageously ignore the overwhelming will of the people and appoint someone who has already proven through her dismal past record that she is not up to the task of serving on the Board of Education would make one wonder if this seat was up for sale.
How else could you explain their continued willingness to blatantly ignore the will of the people and to go against the Republican Town Chair's recommendation for the Republican vacancy and appoint someone who no one but the Trueworthy-Sherwood clique seems to support? Why are the Democrats so determined to pick the Republican candidate???????
A few days ago, you might say that something like that is not possible in this day and age, but now all you need to do is look to the Democratic Governor of Illinois for an example of fine Democratic leadership.
Another thing to consider is that if you need an example of the character of most of the Aldermen, just look at the blatant conflicts of interest that we already know about and their unwillingness to correct any of them even when it costs the poor people of the city to lose badly needed funding from the federal government as a result. That should give you some good clues to the character, or lack thereof, for many of these self serving public servants.
To the Torn: With you’re asking are there any council members that have no apparent conflicts.
Yes there are to the best of my knowledge: Alderwomen Eva Magnuszewski, Lori Rocha, Suzanne Bielinski, and Aldermen Louis Salvio, Adam Platosz, Gregory Gerratana, and Mark Bernacki.
Mr MCNamara-
"McNamara said the record of the Mayor and Carver on education and addressing the school district's fiscal challenges has been "abysmal" over the last two years. "If I were a member of the City Council concerned about the quality of education the last person of either party that I would pick would be a rubber stamp for the Mayor," said McNamara.
Do you know me? Have we EVER met? NO, so then dont call me a rubber stamp for the mayor. I did not ask to get on this board to simply go through the motions. I asked on this board because I care. I want the schools to be the best they can, for my kids and the rest of the kids in this town. NO ONE, including Mayor Stewart, would pursuade me to vote against what I think is best. I also dont think he would ASK me to vote against what I think is right.
I am insulted and appalled at the nerve you have to say that without even meeting me once. PATHETIC
Let's change the name from "Hardware City" to "Conflict City"
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