Wallingford Headquartered International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers LOCAL 90 Endorses Jason Zandri for Mayor

More support and Letters to the Editor

Time for change
Editor: Wallingford needs a change. Jason Zandri is our man. He’s wise, intelligent, young, energetic, knowledgeable about issues, community- minded, a watchdog of the Town Council, a man of the people and for the people and, especially, a family man. Yes, Wallingford — Jason Zandri is our man for mayor, 2013.

Ben F. Klimczak, Yalesville

Wallingford taxes
Editor: I moved to Wallingford in 2007. My taxes were $3,860.00. They were $4,300 in 2011. Mayor Dickinson and the Republican block tout how they are holding the line on “expensive” employee salaries (you know, the people doing the actual work). They brag about 1.4 percent average annual salary increases over three to four years of a contract (after additionally paying arbitration costs because they don’t negotiate fairly). So tell me — why have my taxes gone up 12 percent in those same four years? Salaries are barely 5.5 percent of that. The other 6.5 percent? What are we spending it on?

Michael Cicarella, Wallingford

Deferrals
Editor: Regarding the elderly tax deferral program and Republican commentary (R-J letters, 9-18) “Does somebody making $71,000 need tax relief ?” It depends on the individual. Someone at $55,000 may, and that person is currently excluded from the current program despite being more than 20 percent below median income. “If more people have property taxes deferred, the rest of us would have to make up the difference.” Overall, that isn’t true; in the short term, while there are more deferrals taking place than settlements, it is possible, but the entire point of “deferral” is that the town is made whole over time.

Charlotte Ayers, Wallingford



GOP spin machine
Editor: The Republican spin machine is at full RPM. A letter-writer (R-J, 9-18) indicated Jason Zandri wanted to “expand the elderly/ disabled tax deferral program to people with incomes up to $71,000. No reason, except that Durham and Guilford do it” — couldn’t be further from the truth as those towns were examples. The reasons are in his blog, “I don’t want to have anyone move from family and the town that they grew up in or have called home because they can no longer afford the taxes in Wallingford.” My vote on 11/5 goes to Zandri for Mayor.

Patricia F. Mills, Wallingford

More voter support via Letters to the Record Journal

Since the screen shot above is a little difficult to read here is the text of that letter from Christopher Regan:

October 8^th, 2013

Jason Zandri via jason@zandri.net

Subject: My original submission to the Record Journal / Op-ed (unedited)

Editor: Jason Zandri's campaign slogan "Moving Wallingford Forward" is exactly why I endorsing him for Mayor in this community. As a CEO with a national business headquartered in Wallingford and also as a resident I was stunned at the lack of any type of economic development incentives for business for when I moved my organization into town. Eight years later -- Wallingford hasn't advanced forward in any appreciable means as far as business owners are concerned.  We are not close to Wallingford Center, although we appreciate the work and support the efforts to beautify our town and make frequenting downtown businesses an enjoyable experience.

Jason has proven to me that he has fiscal responsibility, wants to take advantages of integrating modern day solutions to receive efficiency gains, gives full thought about impact to the community, and solicits opinions using tools that the modern day business executive has as its disposal (email, blogging, social media, etc.) in order to effectively communicate with the people he works for.  I like the fact that I can talk to him every day any day or read his views and opinions openly and honestly.

We recently became frustrated with the town's lack of response to a residential street issue.  We reached out to the Mayor's office, to the Town Council at large, and to the Department of public works.  The only response we received was when Jason came out, on a weekend and on his own time, with a video camera and documented our issue.  It was only until then that we then received a call from public works informing us to what was going to be done.

I applaud his work in the past, for the fireworks fund, and for this town's forward momentum.

Christopher J. Regan

President & CEO

Local 478 of the International Union of Operating Engineers endorses Jason Zandri for Mayor of Wallingford

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

I received a letter today from Local 478 of the International Union of Operating Engineers endorsing our campaign efforts for the seat of Mayor in Wallingford.

Speaking on behalf of the local, Business Manager Craig Getz wrote in the endorsement letter “I am writing on behalf of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 478 to inform you of our decision to endorse you for the office of Mayor of the Town of Wallingford.”

Craig added “Throughout your years as President of the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and as a member of the Wallingford Town Council, you have a proven track record of assessing the needs of the town, engaging the residents and leading viable discussions about the changes and improvements that need to take place.”

The endorsement continued “As an organization that respects the input of every member, we applaud you for the way that you reach out to the residents of Wallingford as you seek to insure that their voices remain an integral part of the town’s vision.”

The endorsement finishes with “Your commitment and passion for the Town of Wallingford is rivaled by few. Therefore, without qualification, we endorse your candidacy and promise to work diligently to see that the hard working families who reside in the Town of Wallingford benefit from your leadership as Mayor.”