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The North Haven Citizen — Friday, July 31, 2009
Freda, Doheny lead ticket for Republican challengers in November election By Kyle Swartz The North Haven Citizen
The North Haven Republican Town Committee met July 27 to nominate their slate of challengers for the 2009 town elections, including Timothy Doheny for Second Selectman and Michael Freda for First Selectman. Also nominated was Jennifer Stacey Yarbrough for Town Clerk and Tax Collector, and Laurie Jean Hannon for Town Treasurer. Several hundred people crowded the North Haven Holiday Inn conference hall for the event, which quickly became standing room only. Red, white, and blue balloons and bows stuck to walls and posts, and a “www.mikefreda.com” banner stretched across the front stage. The nominees numbered 24, and committee chairperson Deborah Ward-O’Brien announced each of them individually for oral vote by the committee. “They’re here to devote themselves to making the
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room’s temperature, which had grown exponentially throughout the night as individuals packed the hall. “You know it’s a good turnout when the air conditioner cannot keep up with the people in the room,” he joked. In his acceptance speech, Freda said that the journey to his nomination for First Selectman began 19 months ago, when he was selected to serve as third selectmen. “Since then, I have been more and more drawn and compelled toward public service,” he said. “There’s something about it and I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it is probably my love for this town.” Freda added that he would especially enjoy the town CEO’s communication duties, should he get elected. “I truly love dealing with and meeting people,” he said. “I truly love the people aspect of this job.” The third selectman then began to elucidate his campaign platforms, speaking first of economic development. “I will be relentless in pursuing top line economic growth,” he said. “I will form relationships with the presidents and CEOs of the top grand list members in town.” Speaking of smaller businesses, Freda promised to establish business council districts. The small business leaders in each district would meet three to four
times a year with Freda at these councils. Freda also talked of the “dilapidation” of North Haven’s business districts, specifically Washington Avenue. He swore to identify the real estate agents who represented empty buildings and meet with them to discuss what growth and synergy opportunities existed. “All to lesson and mitigate the tax burden on the public,” he said. Shifting to public safety, Freda promised to continue to work with policemen, firemen, and all municipalities to continue to protect North Haven. Freda also promised to be accessible to the employees of the town’s public works department, as well as anyone who desired his time. “I enjoy answering questions,” he said. “I enjoy being out in the field – it is something I intend to do.” Freda wondered if parts of the fund balance and onetime revenues utilized by the current administration in balancing the budget could have been used to improve the town’s infrastructure. “I am chagrined by the conditions of the roads in town,” he said. The third selectman promised to support North Haven’s senior citizens and public education system. He extolled smaller classroom sizes for the latter. In closing, Freda stated that he was “a realist” who would push through the hard
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times, and added that such an act would necessitate crossing partisan lines. “I will be reaching out to Republicans, independents, and Democrats alike,” he said. “I will not create a polarized environment.” “I will work to restore North Haven, Conn. back to where it should be,” he added, “back as a place among the 100 top communities in the United States.” In his nomination speech for Tim Doheny, Don Clark praised the nominee’s 24 years of banking experience, as well as four years of service to the Board of Finance. In his acceptance speech, Doheny promised to improve the community for future generations. Invoking the Bruce Springsteen song “My Home Town,” in which a father shows off his hometown to his son, Doheny wondered what The Boss would see if he gave his son a tour of North Haven. “Would you see a town budget with zero-based budgeting,” Doheny asked. “No – $8.1 million dollars of fund balance and one-time revenues have been used by the current administration to balance the last two budgets.” “The recent zero percent tax increase on the bills we recently received are an illusion that the next administration must fix,” he added. The current Board of Fi-
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town the best that it can be,” Ward-O’Brien said of the nominees. “Tonight, we have the opportunity to take stock and look forward to where we are going.” “These have been difficult times for our town,” WardO’Brien added. “We have lacked responsibility and have had poor stewardship.” Saved for last, the positions of first and second selectmen drew speeches from both nominators and the nominees. Jeff Donofrio lauded Freda’s experience in personnel and finance management. “He has strong character and integrity,” Donofrio said of the current third selectman. “He is courteous, polite, and ridiculously responsive. He has the right demeanor for public office.” Connecticut Sen. Len Fasano, R-North Haven, harkened back to his younger days of playing football against Freda, a former wide receiver. “He’d be there 30 minutes before the game – and mind you this was a casual game – running routes with his quarterback,” Fasano said. “That is the tenacity of Michael Freda. The tenacity that he shows on the field is the same tenacity that he shows in business, and the same tenacity that he shows in politics.” After Fasano compared Freda’s drive to the everlasting Energizer Bunny, the senator made light of the
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