Meanwhile during the BOE Meeting....

Meanwhile, at the new Comcast studio in Cromwell, while the BOE meeting was going on Tuesday, two Middletown mothers were guests on the cable access show "The Edge" hosted by Jonathan Pulino and guest co-hosted by Councilwoman Debra Kleckowski filling in for regular host William Wilson. Jane Majewski, mother of two children attending Middletown public schools, one with autism, and organizer of the online petition written about previously in the Eye, calling for the termination of the three administrators in charge of special education services for Middletown because of what she calls their negligence in failure to address the needs of her son by elimination of the DEAL program. The DEAL program was a program made up of special classes taught by teachers trained to handle children with various learning and behavioral disabilities that was housed at Lawrence Elementary to serve all Middletown elementary aged special needs students.

Citizen Endorses GOP Candidates

With Election Day rapidly approaching, I've been meaning to write about some of theGOP candidates that I have come to know best for some time now. I just never thought I'd be doing so with my thumbs on my cell sitting in my car in the Metro Square parking lot (the only place I can get somewhat reliable cell service.) Funny as it sounds, I've had a country song rattling around in my head for a solid month now. Its refrain goes something like, "Who are you when no one's looking?" It's really a lovely song by Blake Shelton and, believe it or not, while listening to it I had an epiphany - I am uniquely poised through my volunteering with the Middletown GOP to tell all and sundry about the following candidates' characters, something that always matters to me when I am casting a vote.

Let me start at the top. Mayor Sebastian Giuliano - he is what I call a "Mr. Middletown." What I mean by that is someone who knows everything there is to know about the city...and then some. And besides that, he loves this city. I don't think we could have another Mayor who cares for this city so viscerally as does Mayor Giuliano. I really don't. I have knocked on doors in various neighborhoods with Mayor Giuliano and have seen firsthand how much its citizens mean to him and how connected he is to his constituents. Their problems are his problems. He strives to do the right thing, even when it isn't the popular or easy thing to do. That tells me all I need to know about his character.
A footnote on the Mayor - he was at the city's emergency shelter for days. Doing the right thing (yet again) without any self-aggrandizement whatsoever.

Candidate Profile: Debra Kleckowski Common Council (R)

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 seeking my second term on the Common Council to continue to grow Middletown and to put the focus on solving problems as a community rather than based upon partisan politics, I am focused on what needs to be done and how to get it done efficiently and effectively.

During my first term on the Common Council I pushed for an audit of the Board of Education finances, worked to improve employee relations, helped to create an Emergency Operations Center, and facilitated the construction of an emergency access road at Middletown High School.

I am a native of Middletown and a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. My parents are Beverly Talbot (Dionne) and Daniel Kleckowski. I have two younger siblings Gailyn and Brenda. I am a proud mother of twin boys. I am currently an Adjunct Instructor at Middlesex Community College. I am seeking a second term as a member of the Common Council and it will be an honor to serve on the Council and represent the citizens of Middletown for a second term.

My professional career has been dedicated to advocacy and to the betterment of communities. I have also been a member of service organizations. I am committed to the taxpayers of the City of Middletown to pursue ideas and to implement policies that are beneficial to the community today and tomorrow. Long-term planning is the key to sustainable economic success and to ensure an exceptional quality of life in Middletown and for its residents.

I serve on the following Council committees:

Citizen’s Advisory Committee

Public Safety

Personnel Review

Insurance and Claims

Issues: It is a priority to ensure the safety of the residents of Middletown, especially our children. I initiated an emergency access road, which is currently under construction, at Middletown High School. I work to ensure a fair labor environment and the heath safety, and general well-being of the community.

Taxes and the economy are in the forefront of issues of urgency. It is essential that the City develop long range plans to address attrition and how to continue to incorporate technology into the application of services. Incorporating technology will improve services; provide residents the opportunity to conduct business outside the traditional business hours and save the taxpayers money. I also want to continue to grow the business community and to ensure Middletown is a business friendly community.

Previous Experience: I served on the Planning and Zoning Commission. I made the recommendation to hold a planning meeting and a zoning meeting to provide better service to the public and to more efficiently address both planning and zoning issues.

I have worked on mayoral, gubernatorial, state representative and Secretary of the State campaigns. I was appointed to serve on commissions including the New Britain Youth Services Commission and the New Britain Health Commission and served as Chairman.

Education: Eastern Connecticut State University-Bachelor of Sociology and Applied Social Relations. Central Connecticut State University-Advanced Certificate in Business Management. Wesleyan University-Master of Arts in Liberal Science.

Please contact me if you have any questions or if I can be of assistance.

Kleckoski's statement's were featured in this previous Eye article : Councilwoman Seeks Termination of BOE Business Manager Nancy Haynes featured one year ago this November.

http://middletownctgop.com/