Budgets, Controversy, and Hotdogs on the Menu

While traditional fare, including freshly grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, was on offer, politics was the Sunday special at the Democratic Town Committee’s annual barbecue in Kiwanis Park.

In the wake of controversy that brought national attention to New Canaan, the local school district’s plan for airing President Obama’s speech to students continued to be a hot topic.

School board member Penny Rashin, who had expressed concerns over the opt-out provision of the district’s plan, said Superintendent David Abbey had taken an educational approach to the matter. It was “not an instance of censorship,” said Rashin, who is running for reelection on the Democratic slate.  

"We at the Board of Education thought it was a good thing that the President of the United States would address students about education,” she said.  

Stephanie Koch, a DTC member and mother of a teenage daughter, expressed regret that "we missed a moment,” as many New Canaan students did not see the president’s speech live on Sept. 8.

Ned Lamont, who defeated Sen. Joe Lieberman for the Democratic nomination in 2006, agreed, saying, “When the President of the United States has something to say, we should listen."

Jim Kucharcyzk, another incumbent school board member who is running for his third term on the Democratic slate, is nonetheless proud of New Canaan’s public school system. He noted that New Canaan High School’s SAT scores are among the highest in the state for a public school and there are “quite a few Merit scholars.”

Echoing sentiments from his acceptance speech at the DTC caucus in July, Kucharcyzk said he’s concerned about maintaining that high level of performance while the town faces budgetary issues. He suggested that replacing letter notifications with e-mail messages could save $100,000 and allow the hiring of two more teachers.

Concern over the 2009-10 town budget was widespread among Democrats Sunday as New Canaan’s grand list is flat-lining.

Selectman Sally Hines, who is running against First Selectman Jeb Walker in the town’s only contested race this November, warned "New Canaan is not insulated from any of the larger issues facing the country."

Connecticut was the last state in the nation to settle on a budget, and though it was supported by a Democratic majority, Rep. William Tong (D-147) did not vote for it.

“It is "triage budget,” Tong said, "one that forces the state to live from hand to mouth. The governor missed the opportunity to make some tough decisions.”

Republican Governor Jodi Rell allowed the budget to become law without her signature. She had considered eliminating what she termed “pork” with line item vetoes, but Attorney General Richard Blumenthal had ruled that illegal if she did not sign the budget.

Tong felt the state budget needed to incorporate more allocations for future economic development. It is important, he said, to strategize about the jobs and businesses Connecticut wants to attract to promote prosperity and to stem the tide of 20 and 30-somthings "leaving the state at a greater rate than in any other state in the Union."

Two gubernatorial hopefuls were on hand at the cookout, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz and state Sen. Gary LeBeau of Hartford, who agreed Connecticut needs a plan for economic development.

LeBeau wants to concentrate on hi-tech, value-added industries like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and finance, among others.

"I am running," he said, "because Connecticut has been in a 20-year slide because of the economy. I want to turn that around and create jobs for our children and grandchildren."

Tong, whose district includes the west side of New Canaan and parts of Stamford, was optimistic that Democrats would see many victories this fall.

"We are the party of good faith. We come together to find consensus and move together," Tong said.