The Oxford race for First Selectman picked up steam Thursday evening, with separate events staged by each candidate at precisely the same time.
Outside Town Hall at 6 p.m., Joseph Calabrese, who is the Democratic Party’s choice for the town’s top elected office, gave a press conference to talk about his approach to dealing with the town’s road repair issues.
It was the second press conference in a series of four Calabrese said he will give to let voters know where he stands on issues. His running mate, Dave McKane, stood at his
side.
Just down the road and also at 6 p.m., at 318 Oxford Road, Republican candidate George Temple hosted the grand opening of his campaign headquarters he shares with running mate Jeffrey Haney.
Temple said he will not be copying Calabrese’s approach to campaigning.
“I’m a doer, not a talker, and neither is Jeff Haney. What we intend to do is get out on that campaign trail and get our message out that way,” Temple said. “Of course I have ideas and things to say about trash pickup, and a blight ordinance, and some real economic development ideas. It isn’t that I don’t have anything to say. I’m afraid of hurting my arm patting myself on the back. Other people don’t seem to have that concern,” he said.
Calabrese told the crowd of about 15 people outside Town Hall that Beacon Falls approached the town about sharing costs to purchase a new, “Benedetti Re-Heat paving machine.”
Calabrese said that while sharing equipment and costs with surrounding small towns is smart, this idea is too expensive and carries too many risks, Calabrese said.
Here is Calabrese’s speech in its entirety:
He didn’t mention it in his speech, but when questioned by the Valley Indy, Calabrese said it is the same repaving machine that candidate
Temple wrote enthusiastically about in a press release over the summer.
Over at Temple headquarters, the Republican candidate said he still feels confident about the repaving machine.
“Once again, it’s something we have to look into,” Temple said. “If I’m elected I’ll go to Ohio (where it is made) on my own expense and look at this machine in action.”
Calabrese had another idea.
Oxford now has more than 110 miles of public road and needs to be repaved roughly twice the rate it does now, Calabrese said.
“We will accomplish this by working with the town engineer and pubic works to survey all the roads in town, determine what corrections and drainage need to be installed, prioritize and prepare a comprehensive schedule and plan for all of Oxford’s roads, and work with the Board of Finance to effect this plan in a manner that will not create an
undue burden on our residents,” Calabrese said.
He closed by saying if elected he and McKane will make Oxford’s roads safe, secure and affordable.
