Preston ripe for change

Incumbent Preston First Selectman Robert Congdon concedes that there has been no greater priority in Preston over the past decade than getting the former Norwich Hospital property cleaned up, developed and on the tax rolls. Yet the property remains undeveloped. It is time for a new perspective that would come with a change in leadership.

The Republican incumbent, seeking a ninth two-year term, has plenty of reasons he should not shoulder the blame for the 390-acre, dilapidated property remaining vacant. The state walked away from the property without dealing with the leftover pollution or mothballing buildings to protect them, failures that damaged its value to potential developers. Until town voters approved acquiring the property from the state in February 2009, the town's ability to market it was limited, he said. And there was the poor economy.

But there were missteps. The Congdon administration wasted far too much time pursuing the pie-in-the-sky Utopia development proposal. A

second round of would-be development projects likewise ended in failure. The latest request for proposals generated just three responses, only two that remain on the table. As for the economy, Mr. Congdon knew it was bad when he urged voters to approve buying the property, making it entirely the town's responsibility and problem.

Despite repeated assurances from the first selectman that potential developers would pick up the legal tabs, $912,000 in unpaid legal bills ended up on Preston's books. According to a recent agreement, Preston will have to pay up if it begins selling hospital parcels.

This is not to say the first selectman has not tried. Mr. Congdon's work on the issue has been tireless and determined. The town has made some progress in cleaning up and securing the property through the work of the Preston Redevelopment Agency. And aside from those legal bills, Mr. Congdon has been a fiscally frugal administrator.

But the bottom line is a lack of progress in meeting the town's biggest challenge.

We suggest giving Democratic challenger Timothy R. Bowles a chance. The race is a rematch of the 2009 election. Mr. Bowles returns more seasoned, having spent a term as a selectman. A former chairman of the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, his connections within the administration of Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy could prove pivotal as the town looks for a partnership with the state in developing the property.

Whether his ideas - a clean energy park with research and manufacturing of renewable energy products; renewable energy generation; marina development tied to Mohegan Sun; and perhaps a medical facility for military veterans - prove feasible, we can't say. But we welcome some new ideas and a fresh outlook.

We endorse Mr. Bowles' legal fight to keep the development process as open as possible; a stark contrast with Mr. Congdon's endorsement of unnecessary secrecy. We also welcome his call for greater support of the town's small-scale farmers.

Timothy R. Bowles is the best choice for Preston first selectman.