To the Editor:
Should Derby’s politicians have 4 years in office before having to face voters? That is what they are asking for. So I began thinking, Is this what takes place in the vast majority of CT municipalities! I found out the answer is not at all!!!
The facts are that less than 20% of the municipalities in the state have 4‑year terms for their elected officials. Of the 20% of the municipalities that do have 4‑year terms for their elected officials they are either large municipalities where a party machine runs rough-shod over the political process or municipalities that are smaller or more affluent than Derby that have a trust and confidence in their elected officials.
Derby, has an active 2‑party system and an independently-minded group of voters. It is not well run. Just look at our downtown! It is not affluent. More than 70% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Given its current political climate, I think it is far to say that voters have a general lack of trust and confidence in our elected officials. Heck, the mayor won re-election by less than 40 votes for his second term and his party lost the majority on the Board of Aldermen in the most recent election. Now he’s asking us for four more years!!!!.
Maybe you, like me, given these facts wonder why this administration is even asking us to increase their terms at this point. You won’t find me voting for it that’s for sure. I urge my fellow Derbyites to VOTE NO ON CHARTER REVISION.
The writer lives in Derby.
