Trumbull's Herbst: 'Move Forward in a Positive Direction'

This is one of two articles detailing the Trumbull first selectman candidates' remarks at their respective nominating conventions.

Accepting the nomination for a third term as first selectman, Tim Herbst said this November's election is a simple choice.

"We can continue to move Trumbull forward in  a positive direction or we can return to the policies of the past. That is the decision this Election Day," he said at the republican nominating convention Tuesday night.

"Our opponents are in the middle of an identity crisis. They are a political party in search of an ideology. They never tell you what they stand for; they only tell you what they are against," Herbst said. "In the last two years, Democrats on the Town Council have not introduced one positive piece of legislation to move our Town forward."

"They spend more time on blogs talking to each other than speaking to the citizens they represent," the first selectman added.

He urged residents to vote for him and the republican slate because of his administration's accomplishments. 

"Four years ago, we were very clear with the people of Trumbull. We told them exactly what we would do for them if they gave us the ball," Herbst said. "On Dec. 7, 2009, we were given the ball. And, as the son of a coach, when someone gives my team and I the ball, it's all about moving the chains down the field.

"It's about doing the job you were elected to do. It's about getting the first downs - - and you get the first downs by honoring your commitments. You score the touchdowns by turning your commitments into results.

"Tonight, I can state with a strong conviction that we have honored our commitments and the Town of Trumbull is better off now than it was four years ago," according to the first selectman.

Specifically, Herbst said the administration's accomplishments include:

• "When we came into office, the average annual tax increase was 6% - - twice the rate of inflation. Four years later, the average tax increase these last four years has been 1.88 percent- below the current rate of inflation. And last year, for the first time since 1983, residential property taxpayers saw an average residential property tax decrease of 3.5 percent.

• "The employee headcount is less than when we took office four years ago.

• "We have negotiated 5 labor contracts that have reduced our unfunded pension liability by taking new employee hires out of the Town's pension system.

• "For the first time in a generation  our  pension  fund  has reached proper levels of funding. Our assets are growing and for the first time in recent history our net cash flows are positive."

• "Last year, working together, we doubled senior citizen tax relief. Now, the people who helped build this town can plan their futures with confidence and age in place, knowing that they will be able to afford to stay in Trumbull."

• "At a time when federal and state credit has been downgraded, all three bond rating agencies have lauded our fiscal management."
• "Trumbull now has one of the strongest early childhood education models in the state of Connecticut.
• "I can tell the people of Trumbull that the Town's emergency preparedness  is stronger today than it was four years ago.
• "Trumbull EMS call response time has improved. Today, volunteers are coming back to Trumbull EMS in large numbers and we have increased 911 call coverage from 73 percent in March to  94 percent in just four months.