{news} New London Candidates Speak Out: Forum takes on eminent domain

[David Bedell]

http://www.shorepublishing.com/archive/re.aspx?re=c6c1d04e-7def-4b57-84e3-242fc7516a9a

Shore Publishing, Madison, CT

City Candidates Speak Out: Forum takes on eminent domain, Ocean Beach and 
taxes in New London

By Stephen Chupaska
Published on 10/21/2005

New London -
Last week at a forum sponsored by the Neighborhood Alliance, candidates for 
City Council and the Board of Education were each given the allotted time of 
a boxing round -- three minutes -- to present their views on citywide 
issues.

Despite the fact that candidates from four political parties attended, the 
proceedings, moderated by former Republican City Councilor Dorothy Leib, 
were civil and eerily polite. The challengers did not attempt to hook or jab 
the incumbents.

Instead, the evening was marked by, as resident Rick Barett said, "the 
quality of the candidates' passions."

In fact, the only friction generated was by the organizers, who chose not to 
invite the upstart One New London party; however, three of the party's five 
candidates for City Council spoke regardless.

“They were not invited,” said Joan Discordia, the Neighborhood Alliance 
chair. “I think they are obnoxious.”

The majority party in the city, the Democrats, had six of their full slate 
of seven candidates in attendance. Councilor Beth Sabilia was missing as she 
was due with the birth of her second child.

The four other incumbents -- Mayor Jane Glover, Deputy Mayor Bill Morse, 
Margaret Curtin and Gerard Gaynor, along with challengers and school board 
members Kevin Cavanagh and Elizabeth Garcia Gonzalez -- presented what 
seemed to be an organized appearance. Their message was a compendium of 
alleged personal and civic accomplishments with Glover offering 
prognostications of the city's economic future.

Gaynor, who spoke first, touted his time on the police force, but focused on 
past accomplishments such as luring the yet-to-open Bank of Southeastern 
Connecticut to the city and the establishment of Ocean Beach's Work Out 
World.

Curtin, a former mayor, argued non-specifically about the need for property 
tax reform and for the state “to take over education funding” in the city.

The only councilor who lives in downtown, Morse lobbied for reforming the 
city government to allow for a “strong mayor.”

The two school board members seeking promotion to a council seat, Cavanagh 
and Garcia Gonzalez, both touted the school uniform measure, which started 
last month, and the recent school board decisions to reform facilities.

“I'm proud of the work we've done on the board,” Cavanagh said.

Garcia Gonzalez, the only Hispanic-elected official in a city with a 
climbing Hispanic population, was the first Democrat to breech the thorny 
eminent domain issue at Fort Trumbull, saying “(the residents) should stay 
where they are.”

Glover, who was the last to speak, spoke in favor of a strong mayor, and 
said the city needs to increase revenue and redesign the Parade.

The four GOP members, incumbents Jason Catala and Rob Pero, 2003's leading 
vote-getter, and two challengers, Mike Doyle and Allyn de Vars, were eager 
to talk economics.

Pero spoke about the importance of running Ocean Beach “as a business,” 
maintaining the city's aesthetics and adopting a plan “to address violence.”

Catala made more personal overtures, labeling himself “an honest person” and 
claiming he would vote “with his heart and conscience.”

After first talking about the “quality of life” in New London, Doyle 
stressed the importance of lowering taxes, and attracting more people to the 
city.

Also touching on Fort Trumbull, de Vars said that the city's national 
reputation was at stake.

“I don't want to be embarrassed about being from New London,” he said.

Green Party candidates Bob Stuller and Andy Derr, both veteran candidates, 
presented succinct plans for the city and dove straight into the eminent 
domain issue.

Derr pleaded with voters not to let the city repeat the urban renewal 
mishaps of the past and called for a new MDP.

Also calling for the Fort Trumbull seven to remain, Stuller brought to the 
floor a plan for district representation in the city.

Clad in uniform blue golf shirts, ONL boasted three candidates, Bill 
Cornish, Richard Humphreville and Tom Picinich.

Dialing it down from his usual volume at council meetings, Cornish pushed 
his skills as a developer and his membership in the Lower Our Taxes 
citizens' lobby, Kente Cultural Center and the Elks Club.

Humphreville made impassioned pleas to preserve the city's historic 
buildings.

“We need to do something about them,” he said.

Picinich also revisited the Fort Trumbull issue and the need for a new MDP.

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