Trust is earned, never given to anyone on the basis of name alone. Trust is essential to transparent government, it’s the foundation for integrity and trust is the basis of this year’s First Selectman’s race in the town of Somers. Trust is earned everyday when you have the responsibility of governing. Today’s secular political environment lacks trust, as minority parties and one issue candidates lack the experience to govern collectively. Just look at what is transpiring in the U.S Congress. These individuals find it easy to criticize, based on a few key issues and well placed sound bytes; governing takes consensus building, listening, hard work, compromise, a detailed understating of all sides of the issue and most importantly trust. In this years election you will find there is only one candidate to be trusted as our First Selectman.
Lisa Pellegrini embodies trust, leadership and sound management skills to continue as our community’s chief executive. Essentially, she has governed exceptionally, during one of the worst economic climates in 60 years, limiting tax increases by working collaboratively with the Board of Finance, writing over $6 million in grants to increase revenue and services. In four years, Ms. Pellegrini has produced grant income to the town of Somers equivalent to the town’s annual operating budget. The economic impact during her two terms in office are limited tax increases to ensure a solid revenue stream and some of the highest reserve funds for a municipality in the state of Connecticut, ensuring a solid financial foundation for future generations of Somers residents.
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Ms. Pellegrini ended many of the town’s decades long business practices and imposed sound fiscal and operational controls that have led to this extraordinary fiscal position during difficult times. This position was earned through hard work and a strong working relationship with the Boards of Education and Finance. In addition, her work through two major natural disasters shows her mettle to make difficult decisions, prioritize resources and manage on a global scale.
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In looking to the future of town government, one only needs to look at Ms. Pellegrini’s record to make a trusted decision on our leadership.
Joseph R. Tolisano
