Chatham Party Platform Focuses on Non-Partisan Leadership to Put Community First

East Hampton, CT; September 27, 2011 – Candidates from the independent Chatham Party jointly announced their party’s platform for the November election at an event at Sears Park. With a focus on unity, the platform outlines the primary goals that are supported by all 14 candidates for the Town Council, Board of Education, Board of Finance and Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).

In issuing the joint platform, the Chatham Party candidates recognize that progress for the community depends on restoring trust and building inter-board cooperation.

Glenn Suprono, candidate for Town Council said, “We will begin to restore trust by hiring a professional Town Manager who will manage the town staff in a trustworthy and responsible manner. This will allow the Town Council to concentrate on the issues that are most important to our citizens and taxpayers and to the responsible development of our town.”

Chatham Party candidates are committed to working together with elected members from all parties to build the inter-board cooperation necessary to move projects forward. “It’s time to stop fighting and work together to get things done for the good of our community,” said Bill Marshall, candidate for Board of Education.

The priorities identified by the Board of Education candidates are to move the question of facilities renovation at the high school forward in a fiscally responsible manner, to promote curriculum review at the high school in the area of science and electives, to promote school bus safety for all students via open communication with parents and drivers to ensure that all issues are addressed promptly and appropriately, and to instill fiscally responsible budget management so that any and all savings can be realized by taxpayers.

Elizabeth Whitty, Chatham Party candidate for Board of Education, said, “Leading our community to provide the best, safest, most fiscally sound education system for our children is critical. Working together, we plan to shape a system that will allow our kids to take a leading place in the competitive world economy.”

The Board of Finance priorities include working with town boards and departments to align goals and establish responsible budgets, ensuring transparency in the budget process, being proactive to bring innovative and best-practice ideas to the table, and supporting a long-term vision for East Hampton that respects taxpayers.

Dave Monighetti, Chatham Party candidate for the Board of Finance candidates said, “Our town’s greatest assets are its people. We will work across party lines to partner with other boards and town staff to make informed, fiscally sound decisions.”

“We need to empower our town department heads to look into the future to bring solid proposals forward to our residents,” said Scott Sanicki, candidate for the Board of Finance. “Our residents are looking for transparency in the budgeting process to identify improvements to efficiency, communication, and long-term vibrancy.”

As the only elected land use board in the town of East Hampton, the ZBA plays a very important role in shaping the future vision of development in our community. “East Hampton has stagnated or erred when it comes to having a long-term vision for sustainable economic development and residential property values. This has resulted in hardship and other consequences to our taxpayers. It's time for real leadership to step in and start rebuilding our town in a way we can be proud to pass on to future generations,” said Paul Hoffman, Chatham Party candidate for Zoning Board of Appeals.

For more information about the Chatham Party candidates or platform call kyledostaler@chathamparty.org.