The town election, to be held on Tuesday, November 2, is an important one for the future of Ridgefield. Over the next two years, town officials will have to make decisions that will have a permanent effect on our surroundings. We have concluded there are important differences between the candidates on open space and environmental issues. While almost all the candidates express support for open space preservation, not all show a willingness to work actively toward that goal.

In an effort to encourage discussion of open space issues and to assess the candidates' positions on these issues, the Ridgefield Open Space Association sent a questionnaire to Board of Selectmen and Planning & Zoning candidates. All the candidates responded, some at considerable length.

ROSA also sponsored a debate between First Selectman Candidates Abe Morelli and Rudy Marconi on October 14. Additionally, we have studied the candidates' statements in the
Ridgefield Press.

ROSA supports the candidacy of Rudy Marconi for First Selectman. We believe that Mr. Marconi will provide the leadership we need to play an active role in the future of the Bennetts Pond property, to set an aggressive agenda for reaching Ridgefield's open space goals, and to be pro-active in dealing with the environmental issues facing Ridgefield.

We also support the re-election of Selectman Mike Jones. Mr. Jones has consistently been the earliest advocate for action on open space and environmental issues. He has been the leader on the Board of Selectmen in the effort to preserve the Bennett's Pond property. His responses to our questionnaire produced a number of creative solutions to help fund the preservation of open space.

Our final endorsement goes to Selectman Barbara Manners. Through her articulate, thoughtful responses to our candidates' questionnaire as well as her position papers as published in the Ridgefield Press, Ms. Manners demonstrated that her views on the importance of open space are consistent with our own. We also appreciate her non-partisan approach to her position on the Board of Selectmen.

We have chosen not to support Selectman candidates Steve Zemo or Peter Yanity. The Republican candidates opted to answer our questionnaire as a group, which made it difficult to distinguish among them in terms of their positions on our issues. Neither their group responses to our questionnaire and nor their individual position papers in the Ridgefield Press produced any new ideas. Their approach to the preservation of Bennett's Pond property is too passive to deal effectively with a powerful and determined developer.

Democrat Joseph Heyman's continuing support of Super-7, and his belief that Ridgefield is "doing an adequate job" in open space preservation precludes our support of his candidacy.

ROSA is an issues-oriented organization. Our membership includes voters registered with both parties, as well as many who are unaffiliated. We believe that party affiliation should not be a factor in local elections.

Ridgefield Open Space Association
October 24, 1999