The Last from The Pencil?

Disclaimer: This is a commentary. I trust as a reader you should be able to tell, in this post I am bias. But this is my commentary & cartoon, not necessarily an opinion supported by the rest of the bloggers of the Eye.

Today I realized the irony of doing a political cartoon in response Ed McKeon’s blog commentary regarding the underlying fear some citizens might have signing petitions in regards to retribution, which I understand are now on a public record, which were publicized & therefore polarized by the Democratic Town Committee’s recent press release, and then in not signing my name for the fear of the same type of retribution and public ridicule.

I agree with Ed McKeon’s take on the situation 100%. I like Ed, I consider him a friend. Ed is a Democratic candidate for Board of Education, and I am candidate for Planning & Zoning Commission being endorsed by the Middletown Republican Town Committee & The Realistic Balance Party. My mom Linda is running as a Republican for Common Council. I was registered Independent up until 4 months ago, when I decided to run, and chose to join MRTC. I am a social liberal, and a fiscal conservative, and have the education, background, and potential to be a great P&Z Commissioner. All other details about me you can Google on your own or read in my bio.

I chose to join MRTC and endorse its candidates because I like them; I like Mayor Giuliano, I like the other candidates and what they have to say. I 100% support them. Most days, I like my mom too, and what she has to say isn’t all that bad either. She and I do share the same opinions on many issues, but the cord was cut 27 years ago, and we have been two separate individuals with separate viewpoints since. I like the local Republicans more than the local Democrats, and I want to see them all elected. In the future we may disagree & have different opinions, but what I like most about the MRTC candidates is that they listen to others & explain themselves. Should I disagree with them in the future, I know they will afford me time to share my views, and I hear theirs.

I did not ask MRTC or the mayor to do cartoons for the Eye, or vice versus. The cartoons are 100% mine and mine alone. No proofing, no editing. I would not be a part of any political group where I would have to ask permission to be myself and voice my thoughts.

I’ve written tidbits here and there since the inception of the Eye. I wrote for many years under an alias because my mother works for the City and she and I feared retaliation at our jobs & in our personal lives for me voicing an opinion about anything for that matter so publically. We both have experienced retribution. I used an alias to publish all the past cartoons by “The Pencil” as well, for this same fear. Retaliation. Ridicule. My opinions being questioned. Mean comments.

I have 6 years of architectural schooling behind me. In architecture school we are taught that design decisions you make impact real lives. A fundamental principle of good design is that “form follows function.” There is more to this term, ( having to do with superfluous design elements), but one basic crude interpretation is that whatever design decisions you make you better have a reason to back it up. This is to prepare for the real world where you will be presenting to town building committees, fickle clients, and dealing with construction workers who will question every move you make. We are trained to take immense amount of criticism, and endure rigorous self-objectivity. I can honestly say all the writing & cartooning I have done on the Eye I have had a reason for and felt good about it. At the time I wrote or drew whatever I did, I made the best decision I could make, and each instance was done deliberately and I can stand behind it. I make no apologies, I meant not to deceive, but I honestly I felt anonymity added to the thought provoking discussion I was hoping to inspire.

Have I had regrets? I regret my written stance on “Food Not Bombs,” three years later, I understand things better today and see how this is a positive movement, I wrote against this group. I didn’t realize this until I asked the right people the right questions, and made an effort to shut-up, listen to facts, and educate myself before taking a stance.

And now when I take a stance, I remember what I was taught- “form follows function” and I always make sure I have a reasoning behind my decisions & opinions. I ask myself what exactly am I afraid of from now on signing my cartoons? I realize I will encounter the ridicule I fear. I understand that I may offend people, and in turn they will criticize me and offend me. Perhaps down the line these cartoons etched in digital history or running for a political office will cost me career opportunities or friends, I just don’t know.

As a candidate, a cartoonist, a blogger, a citizen, everything I am, I have to be myself. My opinion is just as good as anyone else’s. The cartoons are meant to get Middletown residents thinking and to formulate opinions. They are meant to be a self-critical look at ourselves. The criticism & ridicule will always be there, but blows to my ego and hurt feelings are minuscule sacrifices in comparison to living a life of non-action because of fear. I have seen this apathetic attitude for years in Middletown, displayed by both certain elected officials and citizens alike. Unless people speak up, we will all be stuck in place forever, and Middletown cannot grow.

I can promise as a candidate, if elected, I will educate myself with the relevant information of the issue at hand, I will shut-up and listen to people around me who might know more than me on a particular subject. If my opinions change on a certain issue, the public can rest assured it is not because of weakness, but because it is what turns out to be the right thing to do. I will exercise the best judgment my education has afforded me. I will ask the so-called “stupid” questions others are afraid to ask, and make sure everyone in the room with me, or for that matter the City- understands the implications of our decisions on the generations that will inherit Middletown. I will also respect the interests of the generations whom came before me. I am young, I have a lot to learn no doubt, but my learning will not be at the expense of Middletown’s best interest. I will own my opinions, decisions, and make the best decisions I can. No one is harder on me than myself, because that’s what I was to taught to do. If I do not have enough information to do so, I will not be lazy, subservient, or acquiesce to political pressures, I will get off my ass and get answers because that is what I was trained to do. That being said, I am ready to stand up for Middletown’s needs. I won’t be a bystander in the political arena, I will open my mouth and not shut-up for fear of ridicule, criticism, and retribution; hopefully, in doing so lead by example.

Incumbent Mayor Giuliano's Campaign Kick-Off Speech

Copy of the speech for those not in attendance, given by Mayor Sebastian Giuliano at the kick off event held at the Republican headquarters on Thursday July 21 where incumbent mayoral candidate Giuliano officially kicked off his campaign. The Middletown Republican Town Committee announces its 2011 candidates at its public meeting Monday July 25. Republican headquarters are located in the Hartford Courant building across from Stop and Shop.

Seb Giuliano Announcement Speech

Thursday, July 21, 2001

Thank you all for being here tonight as we continue our effort to build a better future for Middletown.

Six years ago, I asked the people of this City to take a chance at a different form of leadership – one that was based on plain talk, facts and a desire to throw out petty politics and backroom deal making.

We were a great city being held back by the selfishness of a few who see government as a means to an end, who view elective office as a free pass to impose their will on others without debate or public participation.

The people of Middletown took that chance in 2005 and, since that date, I have tried to bring a sense of responsibility, teamwork and honesty to City Hall. During that time, with the help of many in our administration, the business community, civic leaders and everyday citizens, we have put Middletown on a path to prosperity and kept it there.

While other cities and towns have struggled to pay their bills, make the needed investments in bricks and mortar of public works or provide an atmosphere for economic growth, we in Middletown are getting it done.

We have kept our word to provide quality education and we have insisted that our school system be accountable to the taxpayers.

We have made the major effort to re-open our waterfront, after years of frustration and disappointment, by securing our membership in the Mattabasset District. This will allow the city to provide better sewer services, close our own aging wastewater treatment plant and open the Connecticut River to a whole host of options.

Our downtown is thriving, because we work with our business leaders and investors. Middletown is a partner to the business community. We keep our streets safe, we respond to the needs of businesses by helping them overcome challenges instead of placing obstacles in their paths and we watch every dime we are given by the hard working people of this community.

We have kept our spending and taxes low and we have offered honest budgets that reflect our responsibilities and needs. Our friends on the other side insist on cutting corners and playing chicken with the people’s money. I won’t let them do that and your Republican Council members won’t either.

And when the opportunity came to offer our seniors the dignity of their own facility, we acted, and we will get the Eckersley-Hall Center completed with your help.

No one can do this alone. I have been blessed by a supportive family – my wife, Paula, my mother and my children – who have put up with more than most can imagine. They, along with countless aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, are part of who I am, but also what Middletown is all about.

We are a community of people who care deeply about our roots, our history and our shared desire to do better. This is our town, and we have worked diligently to reach that goal by being up front and honest about the many issues we face each day.

I know that there are some that don’t agree with everything we say or do, but they can’t say they don’t know where I stand and what our position is.

The alternative is clear – a return to the wasteful pettiness which has kept Middletown mired in endless, pointless and costly problems. We need to take advantage of our opportunities, not miss them because someone wants to score a political point.

That is why today I formally announce that I am seeking another term as Mayor of Middletown.

There are many tasks to complete – moving forward on the riverfront, rebuilding our roads, completing the senior center and attracting more businesses to our city.

People around our state are always talking about the “Middletown Miracle”. Every day people from other communities come here. They want to see for themselves how we all work together to provide an affordable quality of life.

I want to continue that effort but I need your help over these next weeks and months. I need your vote and I need a Republican Common Council. We cannot accomplish what we need to do to protect the taxpayers without common sense Republicans making the right decisions.

That is our task. That is our charge. We have much work to do.

I asked six years ago and my request is still the same:

“Are you with me?”

Thank you and God Bless you all.

Democratic Campaign Contributors

Candidates for election are required to disclose to the public the source of their campaign contributions. The information on candidates for State positions is readily available on the Secretary of State's Campaign Reporting Information System, and the information on candidates for Federal positions can be found on many different websites (Federal Election Commission, for example).

The municipal campaign finance statements are technically just as open, but since they are only available on paper at the Town Clerk's office, very few people read them. In a previous post I listed the names of major contributors to the successful reelection of Mayor Giuliano. This post covers the campaign finance statements of the "Middletown Democrats 2009", which supported the campaigns of Democratic candidates for Common Council, Planning and Zoning, and the Board of Education.

The Democrats raised and spent a total of $13,698 for their highly successful reelection campaigns for the non-mayoral candidates.

Here is a brief description of the top donors:

• Gerald Daley, Ronald Klattenberg, Vincent Loffredo, and Tom Serra are members of the Common Council. Elizabeth Santangelo is married to Robert Santangelo, also a council member.
• William Grady and Judith Russo were candidates for the Board of Education.
• Dan Russo is the chair of the Democratic Town Committee and was a candidate for P&Z.
• The Central Connecticut Carpenters local is a union.

Listed below are all the donors who gave more than $200. I have compiled a fuller list, which includes all donors who gave $100 or more, along with the listed occupation for each donor, available here.

Name City Company Amount Gerald Daley Middletown HR Admin, State of CT 750 Donna Galluzzo Durham Home Health Strategies 750 William Grady Middletown Self, Attorney 750 Ronald Klattenberg Middletown Retired, North East Utilities 750 Vincent Loffredo Middletown CT Education Association 750 Dan Russo Middletown Attorney 750 Maria Sanchez Middletown American Savings Fouundation 750 Elizabeth Santangelo Middletown Consultant 750 Thomas Serra Middletown Retired 750 Central CT Carpenters Local 24 Yalesville 500 Judith Russo Middletown Homemaker 500 Kathryn Antonucci Middletown Middletown Schools 300 Grady Faulkner Middletown Accountant, Adecco 250 Jennette Faulkner Middletown Instructor, self employed 250 Friend for Gregory Meeks Jamaica, NY 250 Theodore Raczka Middletown Attorney 250 Michael J. Walsh Bloomfield Moukawsler & Walsh, LLC 250 Stephen Glinn Simsbury Pratt & Whitney 200

Jane Reif Middletown Retired 200