Doing More with Less

In today’s very tough economic times, many Cromwell residents and families are working hard to do more with less. I feel the town of Cromwell should lead by example and do the same.

At the July Board of Selectmen meeting there was a lengthy discussion about bringing back a full time economic development consultant to assist with economic development in Cromwell. The extra cost to the town would be roughly $30,000.

Cromwell currently employs a full time Town Planner (Craig Minor) as well as a full time Director of Developmental Services who is in charge of economic development (Joe Mazurek). A first selectperson who is and should be active in economic development, a part time economic development consultant (Anthony Price) and a five person volunteer advisory board (the Economic Development Commission). I feel that if these 5 resources work together, they can bring successful economic development to Cromwell and save the town $30,000.

Petition gathering night

I am going out with Ann Halibozek tonight to get signatures for a primary September 15th. We need 164 signatures each but we plan to get at least 200 signatures to be safe. We have to carry our petition forms ourselves and make sure people sign the form with the correct name. The state has very strict rules about getting signatures and we are making sure we follow them to the T.

I am looking forward to hitting the pavement and meeting Cromwell residents. I think this is going to be the best part of the campaign, really getting to know who lives in Cromwell. I have ideas and plans but I am only 1 person so it will be good to hear what resonates with Cromwell citizens.

Tomorrow night I will be working the ticket booth at the Cromwell Riverport festival from 6-10 p.m. It takes place down at Peirson park on Main St. and is a great event. I am also working the ticket booth Saturday morning from 10-12.

Ann Halibozek and Bill Yeske

Along with myself, Ann and Bill are looking to win the primary September 15th. Both are stand up people and would bring new ideas and new energy to the Board of Selectman. Ideally the 4 Democratic candidates for the Board of Selectman in the general election November 3rd would be myself, Ann, Bill and Frank Emanuele Jr. The 4 of us would all be new to the Board and would have the interests of the whole town in mind. All four of us also currently work full time so the Board position would not be a retirement position.

Please join me in supporting Ann, Bill and Frank in the September 15th primary.

Thank you.

First Television appearance

I just finished my first live television appearance on the public access show, The Edge. Thanks to Jon Pulino and Billy Wilson for having me on the show. I had a great time and I think it went pretty well. This is the first step in getting my face and ideas out to the larger Cromwell community. I was pretty nervous but I hope I made sense. There is a first time for everything.

Now onto the primary, September 15th.

Nice mix in Board of Selectman slates?

The chair of the Republican town committee said the Republican slate for the Board of Selectman is a "nice mix". There are 2 incumbents as well as a former selectman and a former police sergeant. On the Democrat side there are 2 incumbents as well a former selectman and a person that has been on the Board of Education for a while.

That means out of 8 possible candidates, 4 are incumbents, 2 are former selectman and two are long time residents of Cromwell. None of the candidates are newcomers to town.

I personally do not see a nice mix of candidates, I see a group that will rubber stamp everything town hall requests, not ask the hard questions or bring new ideas and energy to the town.

I hope there are some possible Republican candidates looking to primary to replace a couple Republican endorsed candidates for the Board of Selectman.

I am very worried that if the 4 incumbents and 2 former selectman are elected, the larger community of Cromwell will not be put first. This is one reason I am running for a seat on the Board of Selectman. I do not have any special interests in town and will work for the greater fgood of Cromwell.

About Me

I am running for a Board of Selectman seat in the town of Cromwell.

I grew up in Middletown, CT and rented a condo in Woodland Heights for about 4 years and have lived for the last 3 1/2 years in Cromwell Hills.

I work as an Instructional Designer at the UCONN Health Center in Farmington, CT. I have been working at the Health Center since October 2008. Before my current job I was the Director of Information Technology at St. Vincent College in Bridgeport, CT for 3 1/2 years. I have also worked at Post University in Waterbury, CT as the Assistant Director on Online Learning and AMS Services as a Programmer II.

I went to Xavier High School in Middletown and then went to Central Connecticut State U. in New Britain for my undergraduate degree. I am working on completing my second Masters degree Online through the University of Maryland. I have a B.A. in History (minor in political science) as well as an M.S. in e-Commerce and am working on finishing my MBA.

I have been married for 3 1/2 years and do not have any children.

I have an older brother who is a Major in the Air Force and teaches at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. He has been married for 11 years and has 5 children.

I also have an older sister who resides in Seymour, CT, is single and has 1 child.

My parents live in Clinton, CT. My father is retired and was a computer analysist for many years. My mom is an office manager for a doctors office.

Any questions about me, you can e-mail me at stantz19@gmail.com

Thank you.