{news} jean de Smet running for Mayor in Windham, CT

[Tim McKee]

I’m Jean de Smet, your First Selectman.  As Mayor, I will build on the
progress we’ve made over the last two years and continue to move Windham
forward. 

 

I love Windham. We are the model of an ideal place to live; a very
special community.  Together, we've set a new course on a journey that
begins with citizen participation in government, responsive public
service, and fiscal responsibility.  In this next term, I will execute
our plans for economic growth, which are built on support for local
businesses, energy efficiency, sustainable employment models, and
revitalizing the historic downtown district.  I ask for your support in
continuing this important work for Windham.  With my vision and
experience, and building on our accomplishments, I will continue to
deliver results.  We are just beginning.

Windham is a very special place. Beautiful rivers, forests, and historic
villages surround our small, friendly town. This is the ideal place to
call home. We should be very proud of what we have, while recognizing the
potential we have to be even better. Our greatest strength is our people.
I first visited Willimantic right out of college, when I was invited to
play softball. I discovered something I had never before experienced:
community. I found a great group of people – from my friends at RecPark
to politicians; people raising their kids, teaching college or working at
the Mills.One of the hallmarks of my administration has been to invite
and engage citizens to participate in their government.  I know that to
have a better-working government, we need the citizens of Windham to be
directly involved and included.  Over the years, many of us have spent
too many long hours on those hard benches, begging the selectmen to
listen to us.  With the cooperation of the Board of Selectmen, ad-hoc
Committees were formed to tackle specific tasks.  Their members
researched and made solid recommendations.  Now, instead of coming in
opposition, people attend to support the initiatives that they created.
The ad-hoc committees have been very productive.  Once adopted, I strive
to make sure their recommendations are implemented. This is what
government by the people—democracy--looks like.  As mayor, I will
continue to open our government by using the opportunities of that office
to get out from behind a desk and reach into the community even more.  I
recognize that I need to extend the invitation to people to participate
in making Windham better.  Together we will work on solutions to our
problems.  This is why I differ with those who would boycott elections. 
Instead, we need more people empowered with the knowledge that they can
effect change.  As an incentive, I recently contracted for cushions, made
in Willimantic, as a gesture of my appreciation to the many people who
come to the Board meetings.  It’s an invitation to participate. 
Government without the voice of the people is hollow.  We’re just
beginning.One great example of citizen participation is the Renewable
Energy Committee.  From their recommendations, we changed the lights in
all town buildings to reduce energy consumption and produce savings.  We
insulated town hall.  We’ve purchased hybrid vehicles.  After hours of
research, the Committee recommends we do a complete overhaul of town
buildings, looking for a 10-year payback from the savings in energy used. 
This helps the planet, helps our pocketbooks, and helps improve the
quality of life of our community.  We’re just beginning.Another example
of working together is our renewed relationship with ECSU, thanks to the
leadership of President Nunez.  ECSU funded a Center for Community
Engagement to work with Windham, incorporating students into the fabric
of our community.  We will learn from and benefit from each other in many
ways.  We’re all excited with the idea of students living and shopping in
the historic downtown.  I am working with others to bring together the
coalition of stakeholders, including residents, to paint a vision of
Willimantic in the future.   You’re going to love what you see.  And
we’re just beginning.The economy has wreaked havoc on many of our lives
during these past few years.  We’ve slashed spending, and avoided
virtually any tax increases in the budgets, despite revenue cuts.  When I
released my budget this year, I made a commitment to no loss of jobs. 
Increasing unemployment would further damage the local economy.  When
asked, employees stepped forward and offered to share a cut in hours,
rather than lay off any co-workers.  That was a very inspiring moment for
all of us.  But this is how our local economy will grow stronger—by
working together.In the past year, I’ve written “Windham’s Plan for a
Sustainable Future” and worked on the Community Revitalization Strategy
and Capitol Improvement Plan to outline our vision of a new path to a
vibrant economy.  We have a plan to bring Windham to energy independence.  
We’ve written grants and applied for earmarked funds to replace the
Public Works garage, to install wind turbines and solar panels, to
replace the lighting and enhance the streetscape of Main Street from the
Mills to Friendly’s, to support community policing and traffic
enforcement, and to create new employment opportunities.  I want to be
there to make sure that the skateboard park is funded, the ash landfill
is stopped, and the noise ordinance is enforced.  We’re just beginning.While
we’re waiting for the big dollars, I will work to establish a community
investment fund to allow the Town and the people in the Windham region,
together, to focus our investment dollars, large or small, in support of
the growth of existing business and the initiation of new, sustainable
businesses.   The economic downturn is actually an opportunity.  Many
talented people, with exciting ideas, just need the opportunity to get
re-started.  We can help. We’re just beginning.Windham is an incredible
hub of talented, creative, problem-solving people from all walks of life
and across party lines.  There are great people running across the
tickets, with a lot of new, welcome faces.  I look forward to working
together with a new Town Council concentrating on the good of Windham. 
Patrick McNally is running for Council in Windham with no party
affiliation, and I welcome the opportunity to work with a hard-working,
independent thinker.I’ve gained a new understanding of the dangers of
partisan politics during the past two years.  Backroom meetings can breed
uninformed decisions, game-playing and power struggles.  As First
Selectwoman I was challenged, but stayed true to the course of open,
transparent decision-making.  I will continue my efforts to have the
Board meetings replayed on TV so that all citizens have the opportunity
to watch their government in action.  I am convinced that allegiance to
political parties inhibits progress, which is why most states do not have
political parties on the local level.  I’m putting these words into
action by again running independently.  We are what makes Windham
special. I've been working with the Garden Club, 3rd Thursday Street
Fests, the Arts Collaborative, ThreadCity Development
there are too many
organizations to even name.  It’s no accident that only in Windham do we
celebrate the 4th of July with a Boom Box Parade.  Other towns and
countries are enchanted to learn of Windham’s unique qualities.  We show
off our Victorian homes, the FrogBridge, and wooded walks alike. And we
always pitch in to help when we’re needed. I feel the passion and
enthusiasm we have for both preserving our past and building a positive
future.  We’re just beginning.With good, experienced leadership, we can
continue to move Windham forward. I’ve proven that I have the courage,
the energy, the strength and the passion to get the job done. I don’t
quit when the going gets tough. I am proud to have served as your First
Selectman for almost two years – and I ask for your vote as Mayor this
November.

--
Jean

Jean de Smet for Mayor
39 Davis Street
Willimantic, CT  06226
456-2188

VoteJean at gmail. com
VoteJean.com

Tom McNally, Treasurer


******************************************
Tim McKee, New Britian, CT, main number cell-860-778-1304, 860-505-8454
 National Committee member of the Green Party of the United States and is a spokesperson for the Green Party of CT.
/www.ctgreentimes.org
BLOG-http://thebiggreenpicture.blogspot.com

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