Egidio's plans call for bigger, better parks - Southington Library and ...

opinion"-& comm-ent. The
The Observer
an independent newspaper, open to
all parties, influenced by none.
Published by The Step Saver, Inc.
Anthony L. Urillo, prestdent
James J. Senich, editor
News & Editorial
P.O. Box, 648; 213 Spring Street
South.ington, Conn. 06489
Te.lephone: (203) 621-6751
member New England Press Assoctauon
CAC audited ctrculatlon, pubbshed every Thursday of the year
JennieM. Urillo, secretary/treasurer
Endorsements
We are less than two weeks
shy of election day. You will be
asked to choose a governor, U.S.
senator and depending upon which
sentative and state-senat a
probate judge wilLbe selected. And
there are questionf b& yoted
upon.
In some cases we received
bundle of information from campaigners
in Southington, a d-w¢
attempted to reach candidates o set
up intervie,ws. Some respgr ded,
some didn t. In cases where we
didnk -receive responses from-both
candidates, we worgt endorse.
Unless we know where they stand
on key issues, there is no way we
can endorse a candidate.
Starting with the race for
$ovemor, we endorse the incum-
-- -benL William O'Neill. The Republican
candidate, Julie Belaga,
seems to have,written off this part
of the state. She has stated publicly,
Fairfield County can wm it
for her. We never heard a word
from her although we called her
office and contacted a member of
her ticket. She'll need more than
the Gold Coast to win this one.
Plus, her poor record as a state
representanve will come back to
haunt her. She did indeed miss
voting on almost 50 percent of bills
at the State Capitol. Many were key
bills affecting people in need. And
she didn't produce any major bills
herself.
The incumbent has been blamed
for bridges caving in to a voting
scandal in Waterbury and much
more. The buck does indeed stop at
his desk, but Governor O'Neill has
shown a great deal of patience
during hard times and an ability.to
work with members of both parties
in Hartford. The state is in good
fiscal condition. Much of the credit
must go to decisions made under a
Republican president, b,u,t, some of
that credit must go to O Neill. He
deserves to return.
The race for U,&, senator
should go to the incumbent, Chris
Dodd. This still young, dynamic
senator is a member of powerful
committees and is highly respected
in Washington. His concern for
peace in Central America has given
Dodd a great presence for human
fights in the U.S. Senate. His
concern for children by starting the
Senate Children's Caucus shows
his concern in that area. He has
fought hard to control the federal
deficit and manage our tax dollars
equitably. Dodd has fought hard to
expand students loans at a time
when funding has been diminishing
on orders from the White
House. We need Chris Dodd back
in the U.S. Senate.
The race for the winner in the
U.S. Congressional Sixth District
should go to Nancy Johnson,
again the incumbent. Johnson has
shown a strong base for her constituency.
Her staff works tirelessly
to answer questions from the
thousands in her diswict. No easy
task, indeed. Her work as an environmentahst
took a few turns.
She has worked hard to clean up
the Farmington River. Yet, Superfund
legislation finds her not supporting
it. Her answers have been
detailed in our pages before. She
doesn't like the present language of
the bill and ,feels the blame is being
dropped solely on ,the lap of
busmesses; she doesnt agree with
that stance. A risky and gutsy
stance, but that just about defines
Napcy Johnson. She isn't afraid
tO €
Advertising & circulation
P.O. Box 548; 213 Spring St.
Southington, Conn. 06489
Telephone: (203) 628-9( 45
stand up for what she believes. She
has bucked the White House on
occasions. Not an easy decision
from a Republican. John-
with the Strategic Initiative.
Still she, opposed thje MX
missle. Johnson deserves to return
to Washington as another step on
what could be-an even great
political career.
Here in Southmgton the.hottest
race is m the 81st State Representative
District. The endorsement is
for the- incumbent, Angelo
Fusco. One clear reason is Fusc0's
work as an envn:onmentalist.
Is there any other issue as
important? Fusco has shown
genuine interest and leadership tn
battling environmental problems in
our town. Long ago he was pleading
for help'with critic labeling
Fusco a worrier. He was right; we
do need help and constant surveilance.
With Fusco tn Hartford
Southington will have a voice in
protecting our water and land, here
tn Southington and all over the
state. Fusco's, constituency response
has been nothing short of
sensational. Critics of his voting on
bills are harping on the old amendment
situation where a bill starts
with a pure intent. Along the way
amendments are tacked on which
change the strength of the bill and
its original purpose. The amendments
are usually made by the
other party. Fusco showed a strong
voting posture for the betterment of
Southington in Hartford and he
should return.
In the 31st State Senatorial
District, incumbent Steve Casey
should win and deservedly so.
This Democrat is a strong voice
towards bettering the educational
system in our state. And Casey's
constituency response is first class.
His keen eye on gambling operations
is missed by some. Casey
wants to make sure Connecticut
doesn't become another Nevada or
New Jersey. We need Steve Casey
in Hartford, and more like him!
In the 30th General Assembly
District, Ann Dandrow deserves
to become a voice in Hartford for
residents in Berlin and a portion of
Southington. Her work for the disabled
and handicapped has been
well-documented over the years.
No one has shown a greater interest
in the plight for those groups.
Dandrow has the guts to stand up
for what she believes. Party influence
will never affect this representative.
Her constituent response
will amaze those in Berlin who
don't kno .x Ann as well as we in
Southingt do.
The race for Judge of Probate
features two popular figures in our
town: The incumbent, Carl Sokolowski,
and Democrat Nicholas
DePaola. Carl Sokolowski receives
this endorsement based up-
On his work thus far as judge of
probate and his impeccable integrity
as a man of the community.
DePaola is an ideal candidate from
the Democrats ranks, but Sokolowski
deserves to return. He's
earned it.
And don't forget Eugene Migliaro
who is running for the 80th
Assembly seat, unopposed. He's
your best friend in Hartford. Talk
about guts and being non-political,
Migliaro is in a class by himself.
Remember to vote on
"7 esd y, November4th.
On and Off the Record
by Bob Douglas
Running for governor costly experience
The/ 'agedy of this year's
gubernatorial race is the cost of
running for office.
If expectations come true, there
will be no record turnout in November.
But the cost of the race has
already broken a record. The sad
fact is that Gov. O'Neill and Rep.
Julie Belaga are running the most
expensive gubernatorial contest in
Connecticut history.
O'Neill, the Democratricincumbent,
has demonstrated the powe,r
of the incumbency. Th governors
campaign s endin ected to
top the $2.5 million mark. People
who give money usually like to be
on the winning side. Exp.ensive
don't arant
huFL
Challengers have trouble keeping
up with the incumbents in fundraising,
and that difficulty is reflected
in the Belaga war chest. The
Republican candidate has raised
more than $545,000 and her total is
•Speaking Out
by Thomas P. Langdon
expected to break the $1 million
barrier.
So, between thge two campaigns,
between $3.5 million and
$4 million will be spent this year.
That's a whooping amount to fuel a
In defense of politicians
The political season is coming
to a close. Apprehensions are
rising. The election is near, and the
atmosphere is getting hot. Politicians
are knocking on doors.
Campaign volunteers are addressing
envelopes and putting up
signs. Polsters are making calls.
Everything is going as usual, but
some people are getting disillusioned
by the campaigns. They
hear the debates, the accusations of
each candidate against the other,
the promises, and sometimes the
mudslinginmg. They read the
newspaper accounts which talk
about the candidates, their views,
and their past, and perhaps see an
over excited campaign worker
attempting to gain a vote by
discrediting his candidate's opponent
as a liar, a thief, or a person
who attempts to deceive the public.
They may even hear stories of
campaign fraud, like the absentee-
ballot scandal in Waterbury. Relying
on their present perceptions I
Kennedy, Elsenhower, Truman,
FDR, Wilson and Teddy Roosevelt
tnspired confidence in the clt,zenry
and brought our country to levels
of prominence which we now look
back on nostalgically. One good
thing about President Reagan's
leadership has been his ability to reenflam
the public with confidence,
which may send out the tide of
mistaste for politics and politicians.
To say that all politicians are
crooks is certainly an overstatement
although we are not attempting to
say that all politicians are not
crooks, for some certainly are, just
as some doctors,-lawyers, clerks
and even housewives are crooks.
There are a few crooks in every
profession. But to say that a
profession of people out to serve
the public, promulgate good for the
present and future generations, and
uphold the system of democracy
we cherish so dearly are crooks is
gubernatorial election. The stakes
are high, of course, and the
pressure is relentless to bring in
money that can pay for staff,
television, other media and all the
rest. Already this year, candidates in
primary races around the country -
- after spending millions in primary
contests -- have lost to oPl?one.nts
who raise less money. 50 just
because O'Neill has raised twice as
much as Betaga, there is no insurance
that O'Neill will win in
November.
But money is the political fact
of life. Everyone needs it, and
candidates and their supporters
work overtime to rii ¢the f nds.
As a challenger, Belaga started
with a fundraising disadvantage.
She was considered the long shot
in the race for the Republican gubernatorial
nomination. Now, her
primary victory and a good showing
in an early poll against O'Neill
have made it easier to bring in
certainly wrong. One must always
remember when thinking about
politics and politicians that politics
is the art of compromise. How
often it can be heard that politicians
are out for their own good because
they make deals like, 'TII vote for
your bill if you vote for mine."
Consider: If both bills will promote
the common good, why is this
bad?
Another situation is wheh compromises
are met, and perhaps ot
everything that was intended by Pay
bill author is included in the final
bill. Is it wrong to support it because
some of the "good" was taken
out, when, if one does not support
it, none of the good will be
realized by society? Politicians on
the whole are people who believe
that if better is possible, good is
not enough. If attaining the better
means giving up hoped for good, a
good politician, a true servant of
and their past experiences, they I Promoting a sale Halloween
come to the conclusion that all
politicians are crooks. They begin from American Automobile lub
to believe that all the politician
cares about is himself, and he
wants to be in office solely to satisfy
his own selfish interests.
Although their conclusions seem
valid on the surface, a further
examination of the evidence carries
over as different conclusion.
Perhaps one of the most significant
reasons for the public's perception
of a politician as a crook
comes from then: love of sensualism.
Let's take Watergate, for example.
The dealings which were
conducted during the Watergate
break-in were certainly illegal acts,
and the apprehension of the people
who broke in prompted an intense
investigation. This investigation
found ties between the break-in of
Watergate and the committee to reelect
President Nixon.What ensued
was a mass craze about the situation.
People wanted to learn more
about Watergate, and were therefore
reading less and less, about
the good things the President was
doing. The result was Nixon's
resignation from the presidency
with the attitude "I am not a crook"
while the public thought he was a
crook.
Incidentally, Watergate was the
wave which brought in the tide of
public sentiment against poiliucs
and politicians.
Another factor before Walergate
was the Vietnam War, perceived
by many to be an unjust
war. Before 1963, however, polls
showed the public had great faith in
the government and the people
running the government. Our presidents
before the time, particularly
The most frightnening part of
Halloween is the increased potential
for automobile accidents involving
young pedestrians. Though
many costumes are certain to
resemble beings from outer space,
the Triple-A offers some precautions
that shoulO hot be alien to
you. Children should be dressed in
highly visible costumes. If
possible, utilize retro-reflective
materials as they are visible at
nearly twi :e the distance of white
cloth. Strips of the material are
easy to use, effective and inexpensive.
They are easily affixed to
costumes, and it's a way that
able to both 0amnt and child.
Trick-or-treaters in their costumes
should be able to see clearly.
Make sure a face mask or makeup
doesn't obstruct the child's vision.
If a mask is worn, enlarge the eye
holes so the youngster can see in
all directions. Keep the costumes
short enough so that a child won't
trip while walking. High heels and
trailing capes are dangerous. A
simple, comfortable light-colored
costume is a safer one. And don't
forget a flashlight to illuminate the
trick-or-treater's way.
Parents are reminded to have
the youngster's candy be sorted out
before it's eaten. Bradley Memorial
parents can make certain their trickor-treaters
are easily seen
Then there are the basic safety
rules: Parents or older brothers or
sisters should" accompany younger
children on their trick-or-treat
rounds. A parent can keep track of
the homes visited, guide the
children across stre,e.ts, and make
certain that they don t wander from
their immediate neighborhood.
Older children prefer to travel
with friends, but safety rules
should be discussed before leaving
home. Amongthe recommended J
roles are to stay in familiar neighborhoods,
telling the parents which
route area has been chosen. Pick
streets that are well-lighted, and
stop only at homes where outside
lights at,. one. Walk on the sidewalk
and not on the street. If there
is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
And a return time should be agree-
Observer, Thmsday, October 23, 1986
camp gn funds and up the ante.
O Neill had to spend more this
year because of the challenge of
Toby Moffett. The battle for the
Democratic nomination forced the
incumbent to participate in 26
costly town-delegate primaries.
In all, however, the trend in
1986 demonstrates that the process
has gotten out of control. There is
also irony here: We're asking
elected officials to handle taxes
wisely, yet they're having trouble
managing- campaign finances and
keepifig themselves out of debt.
r'fiisyear, Moffe and the two
Republicans who lost their party's
primary are all in debt. There are
"no controls in place, though 'such
controls are necessary.
Maybe Frank Longo, the Unaffiliated
Party candidate for governor,
has one thing right this
year. He has raised about $300 to
run for governor. Too bad campaigns
can't be run that cheaply.
the people, would jump on the
chance of attaining the better. It
would seem this would be the best
course of action for both the Pglitician
and society, since society is
benefiting.and the politician feels
satisfied by helping out.
To those who plan on entering
politie do not be discouraged.
The tide of mistrust is running out,
and soon the public will have a
new confidence in politics and
politicians. To all prospective politicians,
I submit the resounding
words of Lord Tweed amore, "Public
life is the crown of a career, and
to young men (women) it is the
worthiest ambition. Politics is still
the greatest and most honourable
adventure."
Editor's note: Thomas P.
Langdon is an adviser for
Southington's Youth in Government
program.
Hospital will X-ray candy Halloween
night free of charge.
Here's a good reminder from
Triple-A, have the youngsters take
two different colored bags, one for
treeats from families that are
known and the other for treats from
unknown houses.
As for drivers out that night,
just be careful, and expect the
unexpected. Clean your headlights
and have them on the first sigtt of
dusk. Be especially careful on residential
streets.
Halloween can be a fun time
for everyone, children and motorists
alike. All it takes for a safe and
happy Halloween is a little caution.