Oct. 26 -- The five candidates for Selectman debated each other tonight, and their different approaches to governing the town were clear to see. In the debate, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, the three Democratic candidates stressed a variety of initiatives they would pursue on open space, managing future increases in the tax rate, and making government more open and accessible to the people. The two Republicans defended the status quo, and went to some lengths to explain how limited the Board of Selectman's powers were in addressing the town's problems. Democrat Mike Jones challenged his opponents to "take the pledge" for Ridgefield to take control of future development at the Bennetts Pond property. [Photo: League President Christine Lodewick introduces the candidates: from the left, incumbent Democrat Mike Jones, incumbent Republican Peter Yanity, Democratic challenger Joseph Heyman, Democratic incumbent Barbara Manners (partially hidden), and Republican challenger Steve Zemo (hidden)]
Democratic Selectman Mike Jones [photo, left, with Peter Yanity and Joseph Heyman] who was the first Ridgefield official to propose that the town gain control over the development of the Bennetts Pond property, urged all the contenders to "take the pledge" to insure the town prevents overdevelopment of the town's largest remaining open space. Jones, who has been a leader on environmental issues, also renewed his call for the town to develop hiking, walking, and bicycle paths around Ridgefield. Fellow Democratic incumbent Barbara Manners agreed that "Bennetts Pond is the biggest single issue facing the town," and asserted that the town needs to acquire the property and control its development. A controversy has arisen over how the town "lost Bennetts Pond," when it missed an opportunity to buy the site from IBM at a bargain price, only to learn recently that then-First Selectman Sue Manning urged IBM to sell the property to a private developer. Current GOP First Selectman Abe Moreli, a Manning protoge, has asserted that IBM avoided selling the property to Ridgefield as a "payback" for a zoning ruling which went against IBM over 25 years ago.
Responding to a question on the ideal from of town government, Selectman Manners affirmed her support of the Town Meeting form, but suggested that the Town consider longer terms for its Selectmen, perhaps three years, to avoid the constant campaigning for reelection which take so much of their time. [Photo: Barbara Manners with Joseph Heyman]
Sparks flew when taxes were discussed. Responding to recent assertions by Morelli that, under a continued Republican administration, Ridgefielders' property taxes would rise at least 40% over the next few years, Democrats have suggested a number of avenues the town should pursue to ameliorate this dramatic tax hike. Selectman Jones has recently suggested the town investigate the concept of a transfer tax on real estate deals, an approach used by other towns in the New York metropolitan area which could raise $3-5 million a year here. Newly-minted Republican Steve Zemo, one of the town's largest private real estate owners, strongly opposed considering this, insisting that every taxpayer should pay their "fair share" of the estimated 40% increase. [Photo, a radio reporter records the debate as League volunteers time each candidate's remarks and keep them apprised of their time used.]
Democrats offered other suggestions to control the growth in town spending, including adding to existing schools rather than building all new ones, reducing the number of town-supplied "company cars" for town officials, and selling some unused town property. Republicans offered no proposals to moderate the steep growth of taxes they are projecting.[Photo: moderator Jara Burnett of the League of Women Voters briefs the candidates on the rules of the debate.]
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