LETTER: Disappointment in Somers Endorsed Candidates

To Voters in the Town of Somers:

There is a Meet and Greet scheduled for all First Selectman and BOE candidates Thursday evening at Joanna’s at 6 p.m. All candidates were invited – endorsed, petitioning and write in – so that the people in town could get up close and personal with the people they will be voting for.

The idea was to give people one venue – not separate, clandestine meetings – where townspeople could ask questions and get answers in real time. Not in print. I wrote a note to the Journal Inquirer so they could get the word out to those people with an interest who are not on Facebook, the current mode of communication on this event.

Yesterday afternoon, the editor for the Somers edition called me to let me know that she received a call from Bud Devlin [Democratic party leader] and David Reed [Republican party leader] that 1) they didn’t support their endorsed candidates attending the meet and greet at Joanna’s because they were not informed, and 2) no one would be attending from either side. Lisa Pellegrini called the JI reporter directly and told him she would not be attending.

Not one of the endorsed candidates responded to my invite directly. I am dismayed and very disappointed that the people “endorsed” by current party town leaders made this decision. It was not up to Bud or David to make that decision. And even more disheartening, the endorsed candidates allowed them to.

This was an informal opportunity for people in town to meet all of the candidates and ask questions.

The people who said yes and will be there Thursday to answer any and all questions are:

• Linda Louise LaCasse [petitioning candidate for First Selectman – giving back $50,000 of her salary to the betterment of Somers if she is elected]

• Anne Kirkpatrick – BOE [petitioning candidate for BOE - was not endorsed by the Democrats when her term expired]

• Deanise Shewokis [write in BOE candidate]

I’ve invited my kids as well. I want them to learn more about the town and how it operates, forming their own opinions based on what they see and hear.

Kelle Giachello
Somers