1st Selectman Campaigns Rev Up In Final Weeks

Campaign kick-off fundraisers are going strong in Branford as the first selectman campaigns pick up speed with Election Day — Nov. 3 — less than one month away.

Republican First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove officially kicked off his fundraising effort last week at a gathering at the Owenego Inn. Joining him were selectman Joe Higgins, Jr. and about 40 Republicans, many from the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) where they hold the majority.

The Democrats have held ​“meet and greet” events as well as fundraisers, including one recently hosted by State Sen. Ted Kennedy, Jr., and his wife, Kiki at the Pine Orchard Club. Kennedy praised first selectman candidate Mark Rabinowitz, a former elementary school principal, and running mate Jack Ahern, former Branford Fire Chief, for their leadership qualities and approach to issues.

Different Styles

The two fundraising events were different in style, tone and discussion of issues. Cosgrove and Town Attorney Bill Aniskovich kept their comments short (less than two minutes combined). Kennedy, Rabinowitz and Ahern spoke at length.

Aniskovich introduced Cosgrove. ​“We have a really strong leader in Town Hall in Jamie and his partner Joe Higgins, an incredible RTM filled with people who took power for the first time and did a great job. Your support means a lot to us,” Aniskovich said. ​“This is our kick- off event, and we are ready to run a very short campaign. And without further ado, I give you the man of the hour, the first selectman.”

Cosgrove told his supporters that two years ago ​“we ran a positive campaign on a positive message of solutions” and he intended to do so again. Cosgrove began by saying his young daughter, Lila (pictured here), was eager to go home. ​“Hang on a few minutes. I have to say a few words.”

Lila asked what he was going to say.

“I don’t know yet,” he said, smiling. ​“I do want to thank everybody for taking the time to come out to support the campaign.

“Two years ago there were a number of issues to the town of Branford. We didn’t run on those issues. We didn’t run a negative campaign. We ran a positive campaign on a positive message of solutions. For the last two years myself, Joe Higgins and the rest of the team, a number of the RTM members are here, Town Clerk Lisa Arpin have been all part of this. We have truly been a team in implementing those solutions. But again we have a lot of work to do. Everything is progressing positively I feel and the consensus from the people I talk to is that they agree. So I look forward to the election … along with my team for another two years.”

The crowd applauded, and then Aniskovich added: ​“And we are not answering any questions.” Laughter erupted. No questions were asked. 

Kennedy Fundraiser

At the Democratic fundraiser, Kennedy described Rabinowitz as a ​“consummate educator. In fact he has dedicated his life to education, which we know is one of the top priorities because we know that every child deserves a quality education and there is nothing more important. We want to make sure Mark can continue. Because you operate in a way that I believe is the best way to run government. You are not a political person. You are not a partisan person … We don’t need partisan people in our government today. We need quality people, somebody who can work across the aisle and can come up not with the Democratic solution or the Republican solution, but the right solution and Mark, you are just the person do that.”

Kennedy told a large crowd gathered for the event, ​“We only have a few short weeks left. There is a lot at stake for our town. And we have two candidates who are going to be extraordinary leaders for our town, who already have a history of leadership for our town. Jack Ahern dedicated to our town for so long, leading the fire department, leading public safety, modernizing our fire department and he has the respect of everyone on that force. He is just the kind of person we need, who understands administration, who understands people .

Rabinowitz retired as principal of Mary Tisko Elementary School, one of the finest in the state and knows many people in town. ​“We have had the chance to walk numerous events in town and I am struck that when people see Mark, families who have known Mark for 30 or 40 years, the first instinct is to go up and give Mark a hug. And for people running for office, that is not what usually happens. Usually they turn around and walk away,” Kennedy said, smiling.

Ahern on Senior Center

Ahern told the crowd that as ​“fire chief you have to stay very apolitical. People didn’t know I was a Democrat, but I was. And I worked with probably one of the best Democrats ever and that is Unk DaRos. When Unk was in office, let me tell you, things ran smoothly. This town prepared for Sandy and prepared for Irene. Unk prepared for it. And when they struck we were ready for them. A week after and you read about all these other towns that had all these problems. Branford had very few. We were prepared for what we had to and that is because of great leadership. That is something Mark and I are proud to bring forth, great leadership back to the town.

​“We have seen some things that probably should not be going the way they are going. We have talked to some seniors and they are not so sure that the new senior center that is being proposed is the best thing for them. And the reason they are not so sure is that they were not consulted. They were not able to tell people what their dreams were for a senior center. It was shoved down their throats, literally, this is what you are going to get and this is what you will like. We don’t think that’s fair. When you run a fire department, when you run a school, you bring people in and they talk to you. We are people you could come to, negotiate with. These are the things we want to change. We want to be able to bring planning to the town, people back to the town, to listen to people about the town.

​“The current administration promised there would be a building committee. And there is a building committee for the senior center. But nobody from the senior center is on it; nobody from the rec department is on it,” he said of the combined plans to put a senior center in the community house on Church Street, which also houses the recreation department. ​“When we built the new fire house we had an excellent building committee made up of construction people, business people, firefighters and just regular citizens and we listened to everybody. They all had input into that firehouse.”

The Eagle asked Cosgrove about the building commission and the fact that so far it is without the two experts who were supposed to be assigned to the senior center project. Although initial plans have been drawn up, Cosgrove said in a recent interview on the Eagle’s BCTV program that their appointment would come later. 

People Don’t Feel Listened To

Rabinowitz said he wants Branford to move ​“from good to great. And that is why I am running for first selectman. He said he and Ahern have spent weeks going door-to-door, meeting residents who live all over Branford.

What has Rabinowitz learned? ​“If it is one thing I have heard as I am knocking on doors is that people don’t feel listened to … They don’t feel like if they have an issue they can come to Town Hall. We need to change that. This is a small town; people should be able to say what they think.
​“I am going to bring accountability and transparency back to Town Hall; no more closed-door meetings no more mistreatment of our volunteers or commissioners,” he said, referring to Cosgrove’s decision to remove two Inland Wetlands (IW) commissioners, one an expert in the field, from the commission just as the Costco application came to the IW commission.
 
He said there will be ​“no more lack of vision. We need thoughtful planning to get where we want to go. And I am going to make inclusive long-term planning a top, top priority. Jack and I have the experience and knowledge to get Branford moving and working again.”

A Third Candidate

The third first selectman’s candidate in this year’s election is Jacey Wyatt, who is running as an independent. She is also running for the RTM in the first district and for the Board of Education.

“People ask me why would you run for so many positions. Why not? I would be just as effective on the RTM or on the Board of Education or as first selectwoman. I am giving the public just as I did two years ago the option,” she said in a prior interview.”

####