Stonington accord
Displaying the type of elegant and civil solution that is rare in today's politics, Stonington's leaders will avoid a special election to fill the first selectman vacancy, pledging instead to move forward in a cooperative, nonpartisan fashion.
Stonington faced an uncertain political future with the resignation of controversial First Selectman Ed Haberek. At the time of his departure, Mr. Haberek was blocking this newspaper's efforts to access text messages and emails sent to and from his town BlackBerry in 2011 and 2012. Mr. Haberek, a Democrat, and the town are also the subject of a lawsuit filed by a woman alleging he sent her an explicit image using a town-owned device.
With Mr. Haberek's departure, Selectman George Crouse, also a Democrat, became acting first selectman. He, however, faced a possible special election challenge from Republican Selectman Rob Simmons, a former congressman. Mr. Simmons joined the three-person board in September after the departure of Selectman Glee McAnanly.
In other words, it has been a tumultuous three months for the board.
The deal approved by Mr. Crouse and Mr. Simmons Tuesday avoids the added instability of a special election.
Mr. Crouse will remain as first selectman until the next regular election in November 2015. Mr. Simmons becomes the designated acting first selectman whenever Mr. Crouse is unable to serve due to vacation, illness or other absence from the board. Mr. Simmons reserves the option to run for the top job in November.
Appointed to fill the vacant selectman's position was Mike Spellman, an unaffiliated voter. A retired state police lieutenant and now a City of Groton police officer, Mr. Spellman is the son of former Democratic First Selectman Jim Spellman.
With the board split among a Democrat, Republican and an independent, more policy discussions should take place in public. That is an added benefit to this approach. When one party controls two seats, those two members can caucus behind closed doors, according to Connecticut's Freedom of Information law.
We urge the newly constituted board to release the texts and emails sought by The Day for nearly a year. Cooperating with the FOI request will demonstrate this is indeed a "new beginning for the town of Stonington," as a news release accompanying the compromise claimed.
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