Letter: Great Democrats _ Progress, Trust And Problem Solving

Windsor Lock’s is fortunate to have First Selectman Steve Wawruck and his partner Joseph Calsetta running for a fourth term. I have known Steven all my life and Joe the last 20 years. Both are life long residents of Windsor Locks, they graduated from our public school system and have remained connected and committed to our hometown.

Their character, qualifications and dedication are beyond reproach. Both Wawruck and Calsetta have extensive municipal and volunteer experience. They have a long standing commitment to capital projects, open space, environmental protection and making Windsor Locks, a great place to live, work and raise a family.
     
The Wawruck/Calsetta administration has a long term plan for capital projects. There have been Senior Center upgrades and maximizing over 5 million dollars in Federal & State grant monies, Wawruck/Calsetta had an elevator installed at Town Hall.

And they completely refurbished the second floor at the Town Office building. I think, the community should be proud of the functional 2nd floor office space and storage. Thank you Steve and Joe. Your opponents said it couldn’t be done. You have delivered on campaign promises and so much more.
 
Wawruck/Calsetta have preserved open space; they have encouraged small businesses to open. They have been sensitive to our community needs, our land and Windsor Lock’s history.  

Steve and Joe have gone quietly about the business of running the town. They recently secured about 750,000 in small Cities grants. Pearl and Fern Streets will be rebuilt and the train platform will be brought back to the center of town.
 
Growing up in Windsor Locks, I have watched these First Selectmen and their partners go about the business of running the day to day operations of the town. Puia/Lee, Ferrari/Ives, Ives/Calsetta, Savino/Coli. & Randall/Marinone. 

I remember Bob Taravella managing the Town coffers year after year with grace and dignity. Lynn Mazza has this same trust, dignity and maturity about her. 

Meanwhile, I applaud Bill Hamel for making a comeback to the Sewer Commission. I worked there for 15 years along side Mr. Hamel. Not only is Bill an awesome Town Clerk, but as far as sewer commissioners go, Billy is in an irrigation tank of his own.

Truth be told Bill understands the real keys to our waste water treatment is keeping the bugs happy and sewer rates stable. Growing up I watched Russ Gabrielson dedicate his life to the Fire Commission. 

Peter Lambert has this same type of dedication, demonstrated every day at his job at the Windsor Locks Department of Public Works. For example, in the dead of a stormy winter night, there he is plowing our roads.

Roads flooding, no problem for Pete, there he is clearing the storm drains. The Fire Commission would be lucky to have him.

Pete is a hometown guy dedicated to the common good.  I have watched Police Chief’s Lucky Kulas and James Whitten and their police commissioners earn the town’s trust by making smart decisions and upholding high ethics for their officers.

In these turbulent times, Kevin Brace and Jim Gaylord are just what the Police Commission and our community need . . .

This Democratic team of Wawruck, Calsetta, Brace, Gaylord, Lambert, Mazza, and Hamel follow the same grand traditions of honest, competent, hard work laid out by their amazing predecessors. 

Please join me in keeping Wawruck and Calsetta in office where they belong and casting a vote for the entire Democratic slate of candidates. They are my choice for putting people first above politics, progress, and problem solving.  They are worthy of your vote on Tuesday November 8.

Respectfully Submitted,

John D. McSweegan III
Windsor Locks