Candidate Profile: Ed Dypa (R) For Common Council

The below information is a part of the Eye's Elections 2011 series to provide information to voting citizens and does not represent any endorsement by the Middletown Eye or any of its authors.

I am involved as a volunteer in many civic, church and social activities and there are others that are not listed. Of these, I have only been appointed to two by Mayor Thornton and Mayor Guiliano - the Senior Affairs Committee and Senior Center Building Committee. Unlike the list of committees and commissions that the Democratic candidate for Mayor listed, but was not a member of, until he was appointed, not elected to the Council. I am not bragging about what I have been involved with in my 54 years as a resident of Middletown, I'm PROUD of it.

This is my first venture into politics. You may ask; why at 78 do I want to run for the Council? My wife and I also wonder why. But if you’re dissatisfied with what is going on, then get involved and don't critique anonymously, be accountable and make a difference!

I don't like the 18 years of Democratic control of the Common Council and 40 years control of the Board of Ed. I don't like those special bond issues that the Council passes without taxpayer input; because we don't have enough time to study the information about them, or that it is put on the Council's agenda only until a couple of days before the meeting. There should be full disclosure so that the taxpayer has input on any bond issue. It’s still their tax dollar. I strongly believe that every municipal official, director and chairperson should be accountable to the taxpayer. All budgets should be transparent to the taxpayer. I don't want to tell them how to spend it, but they better tell us why and what for. The bottom line is, we are the taxpayers, it’s our money, and you better have a good reason why you want to spend it. We are not a cash cow, because our udders are dry.

I don't know if I will be able to change the system or do a better job than some of the current council persons, if elected, but I sure will try to make a difference.

Biography:

Edward Dypa received a degree in Chemical Engineering from New York University and an MBA from the University of Hartford. Since 1955, Ed has lived in Connecticut. Ed was employed at Pratt & Whitney for 38 years initially as a project engineer and later as a quality manager.

As a council member, Ed would strive to bring accountability and transparency to all
sectors of the municipal government and visibility of city operations to the taxpayer.

He has been married for 55 years to Genie (Genevieve) and has raised 4 children.
He is considered a symbol of strength, dedicated and wise by his friends and family. Since his residency in Connecticut, Ed has served on many Boards, Commissions and Volunteer organizations for the better good of the community and its citizens.

A few of those boards include:

• Commissioner for the Middletown ’s Senior Services Commission
• Eckersley Hall Senior Center Building Committee
• Boy Scouts of America,
• Board of Directors for Senior Resources (Eastern Area Agency on Aging).
• Board of Directors for the Middlesex Association for Retarded Citizens
• Westfield Fire District – 45 years as a volunteer and 36 years as District Commissioner
• 4th Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus
• member of the Elks
• Polish Falcons.
• Ed is a member of the Middletown Civitan Club. The club strives to improve the lives of those with developmental disabilities and the community at large.

Most recently Ed has been asked to participate on the Middletown Community Police Advisory Council. This council’s vision is to enhance the quality of life of the community by means of a professional police agency. Their mission is to proudly serve in partnership with the community through a commitment to excellence, professionalism and integrity.

Ed is one of the founding members for the Middlesex Community College. The Founders Endowment Scholarship, was endowed in 2001 by the Foundation to honor those whose foresight and labor led to the creation of Middlesex Community College and to recognize all who have helped nurture that original vision of a college

Ed is also very active with his St. Pius X Church community. He has been a trustee for over 30 years and has been on the St. Pius Parish Council, Finance Committee and was President of the Men’s Club.