I am a longtime Derby resident and someone who has previously supported Rich Dziekan over the course of the last few elections. Unfortunately, I find myself in position where I can no longer support him or his administration. I read the news articles day after day and all I see is negativity and meanness coming from Rich Dziekan’s office. It just seems that with each day, comes a a new argument, something negative or a new fight with a different person.
Rich Dziekan always seems to be attacking our volunteers who serve the city, employees of this great City and just about anyone who seems to disagree with him. He has become vindictive and has shown an eager willingness to pay those people back who may not agree with him and retaliate by writing letters to the editor, withholding funding, or trying to cut positions from departments or shutting them down at meetings.
As the leader of our city, the Mayor sets the tone. As the Mayor of our city, Rich Dziekan is supposed to be a positive example of what it is like to work with others. As the Mayor of our city, it is Rich Dziekan’s job to highlight the positive things that are happening and to celebrate our great accomplishments. Unfortunately, instead, Rich Dziekan chooses to tear people down and tries to destroy people who are only trying to help and to serve. Incidentally, this does nothing for the image of the City of Derby.
Too often, time after time, Rich Dziekan simply blames other people for his own failings. He takes no responsibility or accountability for the direction that that this City has taken. Our city is on the brink of chaos. The state is looking our finances, no one is getting along, our taxes have risen dramatically during his administration, he makes no investment in our city or our educational system and all he is interested in doing is blaming everyone else.
That is not what I’ve come to expect from our mayor. This is not what I’ve come to expect from the leader of our city and quite honestly this is not even what I would come to expect from any proud resident of the City of Derby. Sadly, this is not the Rich Dziekan I once voted for.
It is because of this that you can add me to the growing list of former supporters who have turned their back on Rich Dziekan and no longer support him.
Racheal Paradiso
Derby
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