Road paved with, best intentions

Yeah, gonna get to this. Soon.

Campaign 2007 Photo Album

It all began with our Democratic Caucus in January, when the party's slate was announced...







The candidates made various appearances around town...








As election day neared, there were more appearances and lots of meeting and greeting!

...and of course, we remembered to have some fun, too -- complete with some music by our friends, the Navels!







Then the hard work really began... election day dawned and we sprung into action!









After the vote count, there was only one thing left to do... CELEBRATE!







~~~
Just a last note of special thanks to all the campaign workers and volunteers (especially our wonderful GOTV phone call crew on election day!) and the outstanding candidates who inspired all our hard work. GO TEAM BLUE! Yahoooooooo!

Campaign 2007 - Into the History Books

~~~
Ed Sheehy and Jerry Weiner at the vote count earlier this evening in the Center Gym
~~~

Tonight's election results in Woodbridge are as follows -- congratulations to the winners (in bold, with asterisks, along with total votes):

First Selectman
Edward Maum Sheehy (D) 1,536*
Christopher R. Dickerson (R) 1,282

Board of Selectmen

Ellen Scalettar (D) 1,576*
James K. Sabshin (D) 1,469*
Sandra T. Stein (D) 1,486*
Laura Ferrante Fernandes (R) 1,245*
William J. Fox (R) 1,183*
Lochlin A. Reidy (R) 1,176

Amity Regional Board of Education
Julie C. Altman (D) 1,457*
Susan L. Jacobs (D) 1,470*
Chris A. DeLeone (R) 1,362
Ernest C. Britton (R) 1,086

Woodbridge Board of Education
Michael F. Ewing (D) 1,459*
Thomas J. Handler (D) 1,398*
Carl W. Lindskog (R) 1,294*
Mark T. Livesay (R) 1,174*

Board of Assessment Appeals
Henry J. Nusbaum (D) 1,422*
Michael J. Soufrine (R) 1,237

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)
Mark F. Kohler (D) 1,407*
Akhil Reed Amar (D) 1,163
Viviana Langou Livesay (R) 1,185
Lynn A. Piascyk (R) 1,569*

ZBA Alternate
Mark I. Levine (D) 1,502*
Cynthia L. Gibbons (R) 1,506*
Louis N. Ritucci (R) 1,397

What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson? Going to the candidates debate...

Laugh about it, shout about it, when you've got to choose...

Well, to help you with that choice; The League of Women Voters - Amity, the Beecher PTO and The Bulletin co-sponsored the usual candidates debate at Beecher Road School last night. The audience was a bit smaller than in past election years, but with a crucial Board of Finance meeting going on across town at the same time, it was hard for residents to know where more action would be taking place!

Democrats Tom Handler (candidate for Woodbridge Board of Ed, pictured at right) and Ed Sheehy (candidate for First Selectman, pictured below) were outstanding as they represented the team to answer questions focused on goals for education, how to balance school funding with other fiscal responsibilities and the need to keep taxes down so seniors and others of limited means can continue to afford to live in town.

There were also questions about the towns' Government Access TV channel and the mediation process now mandated by the DPUC (read more on the Gov-TV blog).

Speaking of Gov-TV -- the debate was recorded by the League of Women Voters and will be in heavy rotation, playing daily along with other town meetings on Cablevision Channel 79 by next week.

Look for it there!

Board of Finance votes on town budget

The room was packed with supporters of public education, as the BOF considered the recommendation from the Board of Selectmen to restore all but $50,0000 to the Woodbridge Board of Education's budget for 2007-08. Out of respect for the Board's time that night, only a handful of community members made public comments at the start of the meeting -- but they spoke powerfully in favor of returning funds to education.

There was lengthy discussion by BOF members, some of whom persist in their criticism of the school's new plans for technology spending. But the biggest concern still seems to be re-hashing the past -- and no amount of patient explanation by the current administration and technology staff of the school seems to sway the members who are determined to limit funding, and thereby impede progress in getting the school back up-to-speed after years of computer line item neglect.

At the end of the meeting it came down to a vote that deadlocked 3-3 with Democrats Laurence Grotheer and Tony Schaffer together with unaffiliated Board Chairman Matt Giglietti in favor of restoring $76,000 to the Beecher budget, and Republicans Janet Barilarri, George Giering, and Michael Luther against. Then in a dramatic turn, Democratic First Selectman Ed Sheehy broke the tie with his vote in favor of restoring funds.

While this does not represent 100% funding of what the Board of Education had requested, as a vote of confidence in the new direction at Beecher Road School, this meeting -- coupled with very positive words and action by the Selectman and the much greater than usual turnout at the Preliminary Budget Hearing -- makes clear that the community is coming together in support of public education.

Onwards and upwards!

Woodbridge Democrats launch campaign 2007

Members of the Ed Sheehy for First Selectman campaign committee gather for a recent kick-off meeting. Pictured below (from left to right) are; Campaign Committee Co-Chair Beth Heller, Carolyn Wolff, Mike Ewing, Elia Alexiades, Sandy Stein, Jim Sabshin, Ed Sheehy, Ellen Scalettar, Hank Nussbaum, Jerry Weiner, Mary Lee Barker, Sheila McCreven, and Committee Co-Chair Suzanne Mizzoni.

He is the worst

He is the worst
Originally uploaded by Sheila McCreven.

Yes, it's true -- as confirmed today in the USA Today.

The Democratic slate for May election

Candidates gathered at last week's Democratic Caucus, from left to right; Akhil Amar, Ellen Scalettar, Ed Sheehy, Jim Sabshin, Sandy Stein, Mark Levine and Mike Ewing.

And here's the slate itself;

First Selectman

• Edward Maum Sheehy

Board of Selectmen

• Ellen Scalettar
  
• James K. Sabshin
• Sandra T. Stein

Amity Regional Board of Education

• Julie C. Altman
  
• Susan L. Jacobs
  

Woodbridge Board of Education

• Michael F. Ewing
  
• Thomas J. Handler
  

Board of Assessment Appeals

• Henry J. Nusbaum
  

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)

• Mark F. Kohler
  
• Akhil Reed Amar
  

ZBA Alternate

• Mark I. Levine
  

Republicans endorse their slate

According to papers filed with the Town Clerk's office, the following candidates were endorsed by the Woodbridge Republican party on the evening of Monday, January 22, 2007:

First Selectman

• Christopher R. Dickerson

Board of Selectmen

• Laura Ferrante Fernandes
• William J. Fox
• Lochlin A. Reidy

Amity Regional Board of Education

• Chris A. DeLeone
• Fredrick W. Kaiser, II

Woodbridge Board of Education

• Carl W. Lindskog
• Mark T. Livesay

Board of Assessment Appeals

• Michael J. Soufrine

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)

• Viviana Langou Livesay
• Lynn A. Piascyk

ZBA Alternates

• Cynthia L. Gibbons
• Louis N. Ritucci
  

Celebrating new education initiatives at Beecher

Beecher Road School recently welcomed Dr. Chris Tan who traveled from
Hong Kong to take part in a day of professional development for Beecher
teachers to prepare for participation in his Global Knowledge Community
project. This spring, students from Beecher will join with cohorts in
Bethany and Orange to collaborate on an exploration of global warming.

During his stay, Dr. Tan enjoyed a breakfast at Beecher with school,
parent and town leaders. Pictured below are WBOE Chairman Mike Ewing,
Beecher Superintendent Dr. Guy Stella, Dr. Tan and First Selectman Ed
Sheehy after an exchange of symbolic gifts of friendship.