Press Release: From David Bindelglass And Bob Lessler

Press Release from David Bindelglass and Bob Lessler

Like most Eastonites, we were shocked and saddened to read reports that Jeff Parker, Republican
candidate for first selectman, forwarded emails sent to him in his official capacity as a member of the local Board of Education. That these emails appear to have come from parents who, in good faith and with an expectation of professionalism and privacy, had communicated with the board makes this situation even more troubling. That parents' confidential emails were forwarded to Dana Benson, the leader of a political action committee in Easton whose disturbing behavior is a cause for real concern among many, compounds the seriousness of this even further.

We want to communicate our strong support for the other members of the board. We have watched them confront incredible challenges, particularly throughout COVID, and work diligently in a bipartisan way to tackle the worst of the problems the pandemic caused. We remain committed in our support for the Easton Board of Education.

The same cannot, sadly, be said for the Republican candidate. Forwarding parent emails to outside
entities is a clear violation of the public trust, which is essential to our democracy. The immediate
concern is that the emails recently published may be only the tip of the iceberg. We have no idea of the full extent of his association with Dana Benson. At the very least, by working with Mr. Benson, he was providing inside information and support to the exact organization that was attacking his own board.

Mr. Benson's personal behavior presents another set of serious questions. He entered Samuel Staples under false pretenses, took an unauthorized tour and photographs in the school, and, when confronted with the evidence, he lied. Just last week, Mr. Benson, according to media reports wearing dark clothing and a black mask at night, was arrested by Easton police. Parents are rightfully concerned about these incidents. Now knowing the connection between the Republican candidate and Mr. Benson, we also must ask whether he forwarded communications not only from parents who supported Mr. Benson, but also from parents who strongly opposed Mr. Benson's actions and his false Critical Race Theory narrative. Parents have the absolute right to communicate with the Board of Education without having to worry that a political operative with a history of bizarre and frightening behavior might be in possession of the communications they sent in confidence to their Board of Education.

We waited several days before issuing this statement in hopes of receiving some sort of response from the candidate. When that statement finally emerged, it seemed both disingenuous in its reference to diversity, and overwhelmingly insufficient. He seems not to grasp the seriousness of this situation to our entire community, particularly to parents. His explanation is not adequate. He was not "listening...with respect" when he forwarded parents' emails to Dana Benson. He was violating a solemn duty of care.

We all have a stake in moving forward as a community united against the misinformation campaigns launched in Easton against both Boards of Education by Dana Benson and his SOT/SOS political action committee. Without question, the Republican candidate’s engagement with Mr. Benson and his group presents a challenge to everyone working to maintain our excellent, and widely admired schools and our efforts to restore honest, fact-based public dialogue. The schools are essential to our reputation as a town, our sense of community, and our home values. And they are essential for our kids.

We call upon the Easton Board of Education to act swiftly to investigate this matter, and take
appropriate action. In the meantime, we are left with the question of whether this is the kind of person you want to next lead our town?

David Bindelglass
Bob Lessler

This press release was produced by David Bindelglass and Bob Lessler. The views expressed here are the authors' own.