Thank You, Torrington Voters

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the voters of the City of Torrington for having supported me in public office over the past six years. It has been a pleasure to work on your behalf as your City Councilman and at times your acting Mayor. I have met and worked with and for many wonderful people, and I feel I have given what I promised during each campaign—110% effort. I am leaving elected office because, as I stated six years ago, I am not a career politician. I believe it’s time for new blood and fresh ideas. I feel that my efforts and the efforts of the Gryniuk Democratic team have put Torrington back on track to become the best small city in Connecticut.

Next month, you will once again be asked to vote for those who will lead Torrington for the next two years. I would like to take just one more minute of your time to point out what I feel are significant differences between the previous Republican administration and the current Democratic administration.

After ten years of Republican leadership, Torrington’s roads were crumbling, sewers were overflowing and collapsing, and Fuessenich Park was an eyesore. The city was on the verge of bankruptcy with a mere $53,000 in its rainy day fund, and the financial systems in the city were antiquated at best. Heart and Hypertension recipients were wrongly overpaid almost $1 million. There was no plan for vehicle replacement for city departments, and leases were usually entered into in a crisis mode. City-owned properties were let go to the tune of approximately $12 million. Contracts were put in place with surrounding towns that allowed those towns to use our sewer plant without regard to what would happen with capacity increases in the future. Our city pension funds were under-funded, we were paying exorbitant rates for utilities, numerous properties were beginning to fall into disrepair throughout the city, our downtown was dying, and economic development was at a standstill.

The Democrats have righted most of the above-mentioned situations during the past six years. Our roads and sewers were put on the fast track for repair and a master plan has been developed to continue the progress in those areas. Today, Fuessenich Park is a showplace completed without using taxpayer dollars. Our rainy day fund is currently at a healthy level. Heart and Hypertension payments have been reduced to the appropriate level. Vehicles are now purchased when needed and paid for in cash—no more expensive leasing. A financial management plan was developed for the city. Lawsuits aimed at protecting our borders from encroachment from neighboring towns have been filed and are currently being litigated. Money has been added to pension funds to begin to make up for past under-funding, and an architect has been commissioned to develop plans to repair city structures. We now are saving hundreds of thousands of dollars by owning our own street lights. Our blight ordinance is beginning to clean up our town, the new public/ private industrial park is beginning to pay dividends, and downtown renovation plans are on the drawing board.

On November 6, the choice will be yours. You will have the option to vote Republican and risk reverting back to days gone by, or vote for the Democrats—Owen Quinn and his team—who have pledged to continue and expand upon the progress started by the Democrats six years ago. My choice on November 6 will be Owen Quinn and his Democratic team.