Opinion: 'Pseudo-Republicans Demonize Bethel's First Selectman'

Editor’s note: Bethel Patch will accept letters to the editor on behalf of political candidates through Wednesday, Oct. 28. Email your letter to wendy.mitchell@patch.com.

To the Editor:

A few Republicans and pseudo-Republicans have taken to these pages to demonize Bethel’s First Selectman, Matt Knickerbocker. They refuse to recognize Matt’s leadership in extracting Bethel from the disgraceful quagmire left by the last Republican administration. They refuse to give credit for AAA bond ratings that reduce interest expenses.

They refuse to give credit for a successful road recovery program despite timing obstacles erected by a Republican-majority Board of Finance. They refuse to recognize the financial benefit to taxpayers of negotiated changes to medical insurance and retirement plans of town employees that will save hundreds of thousands in town expenses in the years ahead. They refuse to acknowledge tax-savings energy conservation measures.

The list is longer, but Mr. Knickerbocker’s opposition is only interested in opposing, never supporting, initiatives that have created A Better Bethel. And in the process they cause voter disgust with the political process resulting in low voter turn-out.

Mr. Knickerbocker is criticized for property tax mil rates without any mention of Grand List growth and the arithmetic that establishes actual property taxes. They fail to mention that the Republican-majority Board of Finance has the final say on the town budget and therefore the mil rate. Mr. Knickerbocker is criticized for ignoring Bethel’s “small town character” when it is the Republican-majority Planning & Zoning Commission that approves or denies all town development. If Mr. Knickerbocker’s Republican opponents want to criticize, they should pick the right targets, Republican-majority boards and commissions.

On Election Day, Bethel’s voters should look beyond the vitriol of the few and recognize the accomplishments that have made Bethel better. They should fully expect Mr. Knickerbocker to continue his tireless work on behalf of ALL Bethel residents. They should reject his opponent, someone without any proven leadership skills or qualifications and only one idea – plow all the streets, every hour, despite laying off town employees. And they should reject cross-endorsed Independent Party candidates, in particular for the Board of Finance, and recognize that cross-endorsement for what it is, a circumvention of minority representation regulations, in other words a Republican scam.

David Olson, Bethel