FILE
Tarek Raslan.
The situation with Ryan Hunt is being reviewed by legal counsel, we still have some unanswered questions.
It’s obvious that Ryan Hunt is passionate about this election. However, his actions reflect an uncomfortable level of malice and obsession toward a fellow Ansonia resident he’s never actually met before, a resident that he may one day be called upon to respond to in an emergency situation, as he is employed as an EMT for ARMS.
What Ryan did was wrong, it’s not the Ansonia way.
I think most residents of Ansonia would tell the person if they somehow discovered their car registration was expired, instead of following them, calling the police, then coming to take a photo in an attempt to embarrass them.
All that said, I’ve never had a problem hitting the reset button with anyone, and if our country is going to come together we need an unrelenting willingness to extend the olive branch, especially to those we may disagree with politically.
Ryan’s motive for the incident being taxes is absurd. I’ve never once stated anywhere that I plan to raise taxes.
Perhaps he is referring to a public hearing at last year’s budget, where the Board of Aldermen and Mayor Cassetti approved under funding education by $1.3 million.
At that hearing, I stated that I myself would be willing to pay more to fund education, as an individual that was paying property taxes on three homes, a truck, and having no children in the school system. As to whether I pay my fair share, I would also be happy to compare my record of paying local property taxes to anyone else’s record, including David Cassetti or Ryan Hunt.
In the 2.5 years that I’ve paid taxes to the city of Ansonia, I have paid a total of $21,292 on three homes and a vehicle, that’s more than what’s listed for David Cassetti, Ryan Hunt, John Marini, and Sheila O’Malley combined, whose paychecks all come from my tax bill, and who together only contributed $19,109 over the same time period according to Ansonia tax records.
When Mayor Cassetti ran for office in 2013, he owed $15,067 in local property taxes and $102,492 to the IRS.
On the other hand, I’m current on everything.
The residents of Ansonia didn’t really seem to care much about these details in the last two elections, and I’m guessing they probably still don’t care.
Residents want to hear what skills and experience I’m bringing to City Hall, and about the vision for how we make Ansonia innovative and prepared to succeed in the future economy.
I’m still waiting for them to accept my debate invitation.
The author, a Democrat, is running for mayor in the City of Ansonia.
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