Talk of Change in Windsor — a Primer

We have seen in the last several months multiple people in the forefront of the various issues in Town wanting to see a change on the Town Council.  I am writing this to those looking to create change in Windsor such as the Facebook "Elect New Windsor Town Council" and the poster "Windsor Rocks" (“ENWTC/WR”) that has indicated he/she is actually several people. I do have an opportunity at the bottom for those interested in real change.

Let me take a moment to explain to those new to the process how things work in Windsor.  This is not exhaustive, and it is not comprehensive, however I believe it is generally accurate.  I will also say in fairness and for the record I am the Chair of the Windsor Republican Town Committee and this is not by any means a partisan discussion nor am I writing this for the Republicans. I am writing this as a former Town Councilor that has some knowledge of how things work.  If someone believes it is partisan or if there are material errors, please explain so in the comments.

Town Government is comprised of multiple elected officials, including Town Registrars, Constables, and others, PLUS the Town Council and Board of Education. It is the Board of Education that arguably controls over 70% of the discretionary portion of the budget, and the Town Council, the remainder. FYI: Debt service, benefits and retirement contributions are not discretionary plus some BoE costs.  Also understand by State Law, the Town Council can’t tell the Board of Education how to spend its money.  The Council may only approve the amount of the BoE budget.  It can’t say to the Board of Education where to spend its budget.  So change will require a change on the Board as well.

The majority party names the majority of members to all Boards and Commissions.  The Chairs are elected from within the members of the commissions, and in most but not all cases that is a Democrat as they are the majority of members and the Majority party.

#1.)  To promote change you need to be known publicly.  You should be willing to identify yourself on Patch and elsewhere, as it is only respectful.  To sit behind a pseudonym indicates you are not serious in your undertaking.  You should also be respectful of others because you would want them to be respectful of you.  Be careful in throwing out unsupportable general “corruption” charges as those are very serious charges and they immediately discount your advocacy of change if you have no supportable evidence.

#2.)  You must work to change from within. Otherwise you/your group need to be great organizers and politically astute.  Change from the outside is difficult at best and nearly impossible at worst. Consider the ordinary caterpillar creates a cocoon and changes from within to become a beautiful butterfly.

#3.)  A 3rd party is very difficult to pull off. Historically it steals votes from another party, and not often the one in the majority.

#4.) You and your members must be willing to run for Town Council and Board of Education, plus join boards and commissions.  People do not vote for pseudonyms by the way.  They vote for people willing to come forward to make their positions known.  Cicero, Mansur, Sorenson, Generous, Woods and Williams are some of the names that pop into my mind that have stood up to be counted and should be applauded for doing so.

#5.) Change REQUIRES the obvious NEW candidates willing to run for public office. “ENWTC/WR” tell me who you are going to vote for?  You are wasting everyone’s time if you do not have actual individuals willing to be candidates.  So to speak of change and not be willing to come forward is just rhetoric, and a waste of time, effort and energy.  Talk is cheap action counts!

#6.)  Understand how the Charter and elections work:

After the votes are cast, those willing to be candidates and their respective votes are tallied and ordered.  The person with the largest number of votes is #1 on the list, and the 2nd highest number of votes is #2 on the list, and #3 and so forth.  When all the votes are tallied and the order from largest to smallest is assembled the top 9 vote getters of all 10 candidates (it is usually 10), become the elected officials.  I am intimately aware of this approach as some may know.  The political party that has the greatest number in the rankings is the majority party.  The other is the minority party.  The person that received the highest number of votes of the Majority party is by custom the Mayor, the 2nd highest is the Deputy Mayor.  The highest vote getter of the minority party is the Minority Leader.  

This is the same approach on the Board of Education; however they have a President, Vice President, Secretary and the Minority Leader.

A SOLUTION: The best way to challenge the status quo is to join the minority party (yes I am advocating for the Republicans) and to work to make it the majority.  The names of those willing to run on the R side is slim, understandably as we have a 3,000 Republican potential pool of candidates and the D side has a 3X larger pool.

In closing, throwing mud and rancor at a sitting Council is inappropriate and disrespectful. The golden rule comes to mind:  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

I appreciate the anger, but it is misguided when you make blanket comments without facts.  Instead step out of the shadows and be counted.  Ask any Councilor or Board member or Commission member about time commitments, you might be pleasantly surprised. 

The minority party is on Facebook at Windsor Republicans or Windsor Republicans TC, and WindsorRepublicans.com