By Kendra Baker, newstimes Staff WriterMay 26, 2024
Anne Weisberg of Sherman was endorsed by local Democrats to challenge for a seat in the state House of Representatives. Contributed photo
SHERMAN — A town resident who says she has a passion for Candlewood Lake and a commitment to fairness and justice is looking to be the next representative in Connecticut’s 108th House District.
Sherman resident Anne Weisberg was unanimously endorsed to run as the Democratic candidate for the House seat, the Sherman Democratic Town Committee recently announced on Facebook.
“I know what it takes to win,” Weisberg said in a video message played during a May 15 nominating convention at the Sherman Senior Center, according to the DTC.
She is the second Democrat from Sherman to challenge incumbent Republican Patrick Callahan for the 108th House District, which includes Sherman, and parts of New Fairfield, Danbury and New Milford.
All Sherman Voters registered as a Democrat or are Independent are welcome to attend the caucus and monthly meeting of the Sherman Democratic Town Committee. The caucus will endorse members and candidates for the Sherman Democratic Town Committee and transact other business as may be proper to come before the said caucus.
These events will occur on WEDNESDAY, Jan 10, 2024, at 7:30 pm at Charter Hall, Sherman Emergency Services Facility 1 Route 39, Sherman, CT.
I have been your First Selectman since 2018 and I am running for re-election. Lately, the Sherman School renovation project and subsequent failed referendum has been the number one issue in Sherman and it’s the number one issue for me, too – and then there’s about 25 other things I attend to that keep Sherman running smoothly.
In the clamor over the school, a few residents have forgotten how well Sherman has done over the last 6 years. Due to a teamwork approach, Sherman has never been financially stronger, the synergy between Town entities (SVFD, Public Works, Park and Rec, Senor Center, Library, etc.) has never been as efficient, and the effectiveness from the “lack of politics” over the last 6 years has been refreshing. Now, with the acrimony over the school, Sherman has had a taste of what it used to be like here on a weekly basis: Every issue a battleground, the borders drawn by a few extremists fighting unfairly to win their point. I. Do. Not. Want. To. Go. Back. To. That. And we won’t if I’m re-elected.
As I said the school vote results are on people’s minds and I have received criticism from No voters and YES voters alike for not supporting their point-of-view. There is a certain misunderstanding of the Board of Selectmen’s role here. Our primary function is to bring issues and projects to the voters. Yes, we can lobby one way or the other when it’s appropriate, but our primary function is to see that voters understand the facts, have access to them, and then to let the voters speak. This is called democracy, and I’m all for it! Sometimes, though, we don’t get what we want in a democracy. And if someone is mad at me over that, and willing to forget 6 years of success from an effective and responsive Board of Selectmen to be a single-issue voter, then so be it. But while they are mad at me over one issue, the rest of the Town needs safe-keeping.
Just a word about information from dubious sources on my wanting to be re-elected to keep my salary. Frankly, that’s offensive. It’s also wrong. Believe me, I can make more money doing many other things than working 60 hours a week on a Sherman First Selectman salary – by the way, among the worst salaries of Town CEO’s in the 169 Connecticut towns.
I want to be re-elected so that I can finish what I’ve started. I want to give Sherman voters an opportunity to vote on a fully functioning school facility, the opportunity to vote on a much-needed new Senior Center, and to vote on more docks at the Town beach. I want Wakeman Hill Road resurfaced this spring. I want to continue advocating that the State leave our zoning alone and let us manage Sherman the way WE want to manage it. I want to supervise the construction of the pickle ball courts this late spring in order to realize the grant that I received to build them. I want to oversee, now that we have so efficiently repaired and revived it, the development of Happy Acres into a thriving public entity. I want to continue to assist the excellence of our emergency services. I want to continue increasing our Park-and-Rec offerings. I want to continue our tree cutting efforts because it’s working.
This is enjoyable work for me and I’m good at it. That’s why you often see me with a smile on my face. It’s a privilege to come to work in a job I love and a job where I help people every day. Sometimes that help is with high level planning and projects, sometimes it’s in finding efficiencies that make life easier or less expensive for residents, and sometimes it’s in answering complaints and addressing individual needs. Heck, sometimes it’s chasing cows and pigs off a roadway. Every day is interesting. In six years I’ve taken seven days off.
One more thing: our Board of Selectmen always has the future of Sherman on our minds. We recognize the delicate balancing of retaining Sherman’s rural aspects, keeping taxes low enough to make us an attractive town to move to while also keeping our residents on fixed incomes living here, and in attracting a population that serves our volunteer needs (especially the SVFD’s needs). We also see value in adding to our commercial base. Sherman’s future depends on making us an attractive town for families to move to. This is why a strong school is necessary; this is why low taxes and all of the other components of Sherman success are necessary. Depend on me, Joel Bruzinski, and Bob Ostrosky, to keep our eye on Sherman’s present while never losing sight of the future.
Tara Clancey, a Sherman resident and self-described “Leadership and Workforce Performance Innovator”, designed an interview series where she invited candidates for First Selectman and Treasurer. First Selectman Don Lowe accepted her invitation in this comprehensive 33-minute interview.
On Saturday, October 7th the voters of Sherman decisively voted “no” to the version of the school building project presented to them by the Sherman School Building Committee (SSBC).
For almost two years I have served on the SSBC as the representative of the Board of Selectman. During that time, we have openly and actively encouraged our members to challenge each other, voice dissenting opinions, and embrace push-back and challenges from the community and town entities all in the interest of bringing the best possible options to the voters of Sherman. SSBC members brought a myriad of professional expertise and countless volunteer hours to work for the community they love and believe in. I could not be prouder of my fellow members of the SSBC and have been honored to be able to work with them. Sherman must now decide how to move forward with a solution to our critical school facility issue. I would encourage all of you, particularly if you were a “no” vote, to reach out to the SSBC at sbc@shermanschool.com and let us know your thoughts on how to deal with this issue in a manner that best serves Sherman.
Two recent occurrences in the lead-up to the referendum deserve some mention. The first is an anonymous email that was circulated to people who had not solicited it, from a list or lists the sender was likely not supposed to have. This email contained conspiracy theories about the school building project, vicious personal attacks on certain SSBC members, and even a swipe at special needs students. It was cowardly and divisive and did nothing to serve the needs or represent the values of our town. The author did lament the change that inevitably comes to a town like ours and, after 25 years of living here, I find myself grumbling about certain changes at times too. But change is inevitable. It is how we, as a community, choose to address that change that ultimately determines if it is a positive change or not.
The second instance involves a “Vote No” ad placed in the Town Tribune the last issue before the referendum. Most notably, this ad was from four former members of the Sherman Board of Education, and this surprised me because, despite their concerns, only one of the authors of this ad had engaged the SSBC in any meaningful way over the last two years, across hundreds of hours of public meetings and four community forums. Furthermore, at the root of its argument the ad cited a very alarming collapse of our real estate market and a complete “paradigm shift” in the world of education in Sherman’s near future as its core reasons to vote “no” to improving our school in the proposed fashion. Yet, these very reasons that necessitated this last-minute, the self-funded, full-page ad had never been called to the attention of the SSBC where they could have been discussed, addressed, and collaborated on. I genuinely do respect these four individuals for their many, many years of volunteer service to Sherman but am surprised and disappointed that they chose this most recent tact to influence the future of their town. Sherman is still faced with an immediate need to address our school facility. Moving forward this need will not be best served by cowardly, unsolicited, and anonymous emails and last-minute ads that don’t allow for the exchange of ideas or collaboration. Sherman can do better. We must.
Collaboration is, however, exactly what 1 have experienced over my first term on the Board of Selectman. I have greatly enjoyed working with our First Selectman Don Lowe. His 12 years of experience on the Board of Selectman are evident in his proficiency of service to the town. While Don and I have agreed on most issues we have had some hearty debate over a few things and have always come to a solution that has been in the town’s best interest. The ballot in November will, of course, show that I am running “against” fellow selectman Bob Ostrosky. While that is technically true, I am actually running to get back on the board with Bob. 1 have very much enjoyed working with Bob. His ten years as a selectman are plain to see in every facet of how he conducts himself on the board. Bob has both challenged me and encouraged me as I have learned the job of selectman. I feel we, as a Board of Selectman, have really found a one-off, collaborative balance of varied skill sets and points of view that serve Sherman extraordinarily well. 1 hope the voters will put me back on the same team with Don Lowe and Bob Ostrosky in November. Finally, I would like to thank Ruth Bums and Liz LaVia for their kindness, patience, and professionalism in bringing me up to speed over the last two years. They are both truly wonderful and absolute assets for the town.
I have known Richard Connell for many years. He is a very warm and conscientious friend. I am thrilled that he has stepped forward to be a candidate for treasurer because I think he is uniquely qualified.
He has been an active Sherman citizen for over 23 years with his wife, Mary
Jane Magoon, a prominent local artist.
Rich has had a long career on Wall Street including being head of Global Fund Administration for a $14 Billion Hedge Fund. His primary responsibilities had a heavy emphasis on compliance, due diligence, and budgeting. He’s also had major wins in instituting cost-saving systems and measures
I know Rich to be very detail-oriented and compelled to do any task to the
utmost. With Rich recently, retired, I bet he has more flexibility to devote all the hours needed to be treasurer than someone working full time.
Being Treasurer is a perfect extension of his decades-long history of volunteering for Sherman. His financial sector experience, availability, and willingness to put in the time and energy make him uniquely qualified. I urge my fellow Shermanites to vote for Rich on Nov 7th.
