Palo Rebuts Trumbull GOP Charges

After reading Republican Chairman Jack Testani and First Selectman Timothy Herbst’s words in the “Trumbull GOP: Dems Have 'Amnesia' Over Bolton Concert” article, I feel as if I just watched the episode of Superman where the character “Bizarro” invites Superman to his “Bizarro World” of “Htrae” (Earth spelled backwards}.

Statements in this article are so misleading and so backwards, I must take the time to set the record straight.

First off, concerning the Michael Bolton concert, in which all of the Republicans on the Board of Finance (BOF) voted “No” joining myself and fellow Democrat Stephen Lupien, Mr. Herbst forgets that I gave him some sage advice during the duel meeting of the BOF and the Town Council. When I explained why I was voting “No” to the concert, Mr. Herbst asked me what I would do instead. I told him in front of both bodies to not have a concert this year and put it in the budget for next year when we all would have the time to discuss it and set it up properly. Frankly, he failed to listen to my words.

As for Mr. Testani’s reference to me as a “Baldwin Democrat”, I must remind him that I switched parties on June 29, 2012 three years into the Herbst administration as I could not take any more of the exact tomfoolery this article exemplifies. I have found a new home in a Party that welcomes all viewpoints, not those just shared by Mr. Testani and Mr. Herbst.

Next, why would a guy like me, who has a four year old child going into full day kindergarten vote against it? The answer is simple. I have a job to do for ALL of the people of Trumbull in my role on the Board of Finance. Even though I would reap personal gain from full day kindergarten, I voted against it because it was not funded properly. Funds were used from excess monies generated by the Board of Education and not from funds within the budget. As of this moment, full day kindergarten is not funded for year two of its existence. I fully support full day kindergarten in the Town of Trumbull, but let’s do it the right way and put it in the budget where it belongs.

Finally, Mr. Testani makes comments about my “fiscal conservatism”. I know he doesn’t go to any Board of Finance meetings and he must not be reading any of our minutes either. I invite anyone to go to the Board of Finance minutes from March 14, 2011 and examine why I voted against the First Selectman’s budget. I will not vote for the largesse Mr. Herbst has included in his past budgets and if he tries to keep doing it, I say to Mr. Herbst and the Trumbull Republicans, “NO, NO, and again NO”.