Getting dark early

It is getting dark earlier and earlier so it means I will have to make more phone calls. It is also much cooler than it was when I was campaigning for the September 15th election. I have been campaigning for so long but it has been worth all the work. I have met a lot of great people, had some great conversations and am really learning about the town. I have been receiving a lot of good feedback from folks and am hoping for a great turnout on the 6th.

1 week

In one more week it will be part II of the Board of Selectman campaign. It will be Tony Varricchio versus myself for the 4th spot on the Democratic ticket. It will be another long day at the hoping for a large turnout. I am also hoping for a positive turnout but will be OK with whatever happens. I have a lot of great things in my life and will not become depressed if I lose the 6th. Wish me luck and if you are a registered Democrat in Cromwell, please support my campaign on October 6th.

3 election days in 7weeks

I will be on a ballot for a spot on the Board of Selectmen for the 2nd time on October 6th. As I was walking around, knocking on doors, I realized I will be involved in 3 elections in 7 weeks.

Cromwell residents are really going to get to know who I am with this much exposure. I have received a lot of positive feedback from Democrats and hopefully will receive more from Republicans and Independents after October 6th. I have served on the Board of Directors for 3 years in Cromwell Hills and was chairperson of the College Council at St. Vincent's College for a year so I am very aware of Roberts Rules of order and how a professional meeting should be run. I have also attended numerous town meetings and was a political science minor in my undergraduate days so I understand civil government well. I also have management experience. Contrary to what might be said about me I do have the experience and knowledge to serve on the Board of Selectmen.

Lifelong resident

Does being a lifelong resident of a town pre-qualify you to be a great selectman? Can experience and knowledge only be achieved by previously being on the Board of Selectman? Where is Mr. Varricchio's platform?

I promise I will not be running for the Board of Selectman every 2 years for 30 years. I feel there should be term limits even at the local level. If you have been on a board for years or have tried to run for office for years, you should not be allowed to after 10 years. I hope new people with new ideas and energy come after me to continue to improve Cromwell. Progress works best when there is a constant influx of new ideas, new perspectives and new energy.

Momentum

I am really feeling the momentum. Residents are contacting me with ideas and support. I was on live television last week. I will be knocking on doors the next couple weeks. Campaigning is a lot of work but very rewarding. I promise to keep this energy if I am fortunate to be elected in November. I will also continue to listen to residents in town and not disappear after I am elected. It is important to stay active after an election. Too many times people get elected and forget who they represent.

Upward and onward to October 6th.

Two weeks

Two weeks from now will be the primary runoff election. I feel I have a good strategy for the next 2 weeks to spread my ideas and energy throughout Cromwell. I am an optimist so I am hoping for a higher voter turnout October 6th. The final vote count for the primary was 542, hopefully there will be 600 on the 6th.

Check out my campaign website at http://www.sbayley.com for more information about my campaign.

Politics you can believe in and trust

People have lost hope and trust in government and politicians. I will work very hard to change that view into a positive view of open and honest civil service. I will be honest, fair, ethical and open when working with others. No more self interest politics and self serving politics. My campaign and the Board of Selectman are greater than one person and a small group of people. I will listen to all residents of Cromwell, I will respect all residents of Cromwell, and I will work diligently for all residents of Cromwell. I have witnessed too many times at town meetings people trying to serve their own self interest or act in spite/anger which hurts the whole community of Cromwell. No more. I will work to restore that trust and faith in local government.

Another television appearance

I will be on "the Edge" Tuesday, September 22nd at 8:00 p.m. It is channel 15 on Comcast. Not sure what it is on other cable providers. The show is a lot of fun with Jon Pulino and Billy Wilson as hosts. Tell your friends, relatives, co-workers to watch the show. I will be talking about the tie on primary day and the upcoming primary election runoff October 6th.

Primary election runoff

There will be a runoff election Tuesday, October 6th from 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Cromwell High School at 34 Evergreen Road.

The runoff will be myself versus Tony Varricchio. We both received 305 votes at the September 15th primary.

Please come out and support new ideas and new energy and vote for me October 6th. I am very thankful for the amazing support I have received. There are a lot of great people in Cromwell who really care about their town and not their own special interests.

The aftermath

After a long weekend and Monday of campaigning I spent a long day yesterday at the polls. The final tally for votes is:

Frank Emanuele = 370
Dave Murphy = 318
Ann Halibozek = 313
Steve Bayley = 305
Dave Varricchio = 305
Rich Waters = 249

There will be a primary runoff election Tuesday, October 6th from 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Cromwell High School.

Not bad for the new guy. :-) Tying a former first selectman and board of selectman and long time town resident.

I will need all the support I can get for the October 6th runoff. Cromwell residents are looking for new ideas and energy to lead the town.

Remember September 11th

I will always remember exactly where I was when I heard the news a plane hit one of the twin towers in NYC. I was running late to work and I was on route 91 North on my way to AMS. The radio DJ said a plane had hit one of the twin towers. I assumed it was a small commuter jet because the weekend before I had taken a turbo prop from Newark to Hartford. I was shocked when I got to work and saw the news unfolding. I formed a moment of silence around the American flag out front. I did not say anything, words could not put the days event into context. I was also a volunteer firefighter at the time and went to the firehouse thinking we would go down and help. We never did because the area was overwhelmed with help and there was only so many people who could the area.

I will never forget that day and the people that lost their lives. I did not know anyone directly but my 3rd grade teachers husband died in one of the towers. I also have relatives witness the disaster.

I still cannot fathom why people would do such a thing. Pure evil carrying out a purely evil act.

God Bless all those who lost their lives on 9/11, all their friends and relatives and God Bless America.

Under 100 hours

The final 100 hours has begun for the campaign. It will be a very busy weekend of campaigning that will culminate in the primary on Tuesday. Please help spread the good word about the primary, Tuesday, September 15th from 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Cromwell High School on Evergreen rd. Hopefully there will be a huge voter turnout.

Signs have been popping up around town and flyers continue to be distributed. Hopefully my name and ideas are spreading around town. I am also hoping people vote me as opposed to against someone else. This is why I remain positive and confident I am a good fit for the Board of Selectmen.

Televising Board of Selectmen meetings

If elected, I will work with Comcast to televise the monthly Board of Selectmen meetings. This would allow many more Cromwell residents to be a part of town government. I think by televising the town meetings it would decrease the nonsense and rude comments made at town meetings. Many town residents cannot attend the monthly meeting at town hall whether it is work related or for health reasons or because of prior commitments. Taping the meeting live and then replaying the meeting throughout the month would allow people to see what happens at the monthly meetings. It would really open the eyes of many town residents to how Cromwell government works.

Experience

I have served on the Board of Directors in Cromwell Hills for over two years and have proven that I can work well with others to bring about positive progress as a team. I am able to respect many sides of an idea or problem and can work to bring about the best solution for the community. I also have management experience in my work career as well as extensive technology experience. I would bring a strong voice to improving technology in town hall and throughout town which will increase efficiency and lower expenses in town.

New ideas

I am running for office to bring new ideas to town hall. Energy efficient town offices and town vehicles. Wireless on Main St. for added value. A sprinkler park for hot summer days. A dog park. New technologies to increase efficiency and lower expenses. The 4 endorsed candidates platform seems to be that they have raised families in Cromwell. What new ideas do they bring? What new energy do they bring. I tried to set up a public debate with the 4 endorsed candidates but the chair of the Democratic party did not return my phone message or my two e-mails.

I am going to take the Labor day weekend off from campaigning and rest up for the final week stretch.

2 weeks to go

Time flies when you are having fun. Two weeks from today will be the Democratic primary in Cromwell. Ann and I have been working hard the last 2 weeks to get out to the voters. We will be ramping up our campaigns over the next 2 weeks to meet as many voters and we can. Hopefully there will be a wave of voters on September 15th.

It is going to be a long 14 hour day at the polls but well worth it. Feel free to ask me any questions or talk to me while I am at the polls at Cromwell High School.