An Open Letter
to Bethel's Republicans
To All Bethel Republicans,
First, let me sincerely thank the Bethel Republican Town Committee for its support. Paul Szatkowski and I appreciate the confidence they have placed in us, as a team, and in our ability to win this November with the slate of experienced and talented candidates joining the Craybas & Szatkowski 2009 campaign.
Since my nomination by the Bethel Republican Town Committee on July 28th I have gotten a lot of questions about my reaction to a Primary contest with the incumbent First Selectman, who unexpectedly decided to seek re-election just prior to the caucus.
I believe that Bethel, like many small towns in this country, is facing real financial challenges as local, State and National economies continue to struggle. The financial resources that Bethel has available are stretched, and the downward economic pressure on our local and State economies is likely to continue for at least several more years. Coincidently, Bethel has a tax revenue base that is stagnant; we must find ways to effectively address this if we want to lessen the burden on taxpayers. Our Town is facing infrastructure repair and maintenance needs. We have Town services that must continue at an acceptable price tag. We have continuing educational demands guided by a goal of “providing quality education for our children and grandchildren at an affordable price.” All of these demands will be competing for the limited dollars Bethel has available.
Our Town has a wonderful mix of elderly and young; people who are just getting by and families who are better off financially; and hardworking white collar and blue collar taxpayers. There is no single opinion as to what the right priorities for the Town should be, and that leads me to believe that in order for Bethel to be the best possible place to live we need to find ways to encourage ideas and opinions that will help make this wish a reality. I sincerely believe we can only achieve this through discussion, focus, collaboration and compromise ... and with pragmatism and lots of hard work from everyone.
The fundamental decision facing the Republican electorate in a primary is a choice between our varied experience base and our operating styles. My 28 years of work experience was with a large corporation, General Foods or Kraft General Foods as it later became. That meant managing very large budgets both efficiently and effectively. To be successful, it meant finding new ways of accomplishing objectives every year with fewer resource dollars. As further support I have managed upwards of 450 people, either directly or through line managers. I accomplished this within a corporate political culture that in many ways parallels what one experiences in local Town Government. I feel comfortable with my business management skills and with the similar skills and experience set that my running mate, Paul Szatkowski, brings to our management team. I am certain our combined business and people management expertise will serve the Town of Bethel very well during these tough economic times.
The second differentiating factor is operating style. It is my sense that as the people of Bethel have grown more aware of the pressing issues facing our Town they have also gotten weary of the confrontational politics that have characterized Bethel for far too long. It is Paul’s and my opinion that the time has come for a new approach to the way the various constituent groups in this Town interact with and talk to each other. I have pledged myself, as has Paul, to adhering to the basic operating principles of honesty, civility, and open and candid discussion.
While I had hoped the Republican Party could avoid the distraction of a party primary, I am ready to accept the decision of Bethel Republicans. Republican voters must ultimately decide if they want to support the new direction, attitude and principles that Paul and I are offering or if they want the status quo to continue.
Respectfully,
Larry Craybas