Herbst questions Thornton’s ability to make tough decisions

The Trumbull Town Council voted to amend the town’s pension system Monday night to mandate that new, non-union hires join a plan similar to a 401k rather than get the same pension benefits that current employees join. The vote was unanimous – almost. Mark Altieri, D-5, voted against the resolution and John Rotundo, D-3, and Mary Beth Thornton, D-2, abstained.

First Selectman Tim Herbst said Thornton’s abstaining was a sign that she can’t make tough decisions. Thornton is challenging Herbst for his seat in the November elections.

“Why can’t she take a position?” Herbst said. “Abstaining on important issues like the pension fund is not strong leadership.”

Thornton said she abstained because the information was new to her.  She recieved the packet of information about the pensions on Friday and she was away on vacation in New Hampshire for the weekend.

“I am in favor of changing the pension set up, but the question is, is this the best way?” Thornton said.

Especially after Altieri spoke against the resolution during discussion, Thornton said she needed to know more about the alternatives.

“I would have voted against it, but I didn’t have enough information. That’s why I abstained.”

UPDATE: Thornton issued the following statement Wednesday: “Once again, Herbst sends out personal attacks instead of addressing the issues at hand. Abstaining from a vote where there is a perceived lack of information regarding one of the most important issues we face as a Town is not a leadership problem, it is simply a lack of information. The Town labor attorney was not present to answer questions around the implementation of the plan for new employees. Questions about the cost to the Town were not answered. We did learn that the First Selectman will benefit from this plan with a matching contribution from the Town.”

To read the Trumbull Republican Town Committee chairman’s response to Thornton’s statement, click on the jump.

(Press Release) Jack Testani, Chairman of the Trumbull Republican Town Committee issued a statement today expressing concern over the recent votes cast by Democratic Minority Leader Mary Beth Thornton. Mr. Testani stated “Mrs. Thornton has declared her candidacy for the first selectman’s office, however, when the time came to cast two critical votes on the town council, she abstained. Trumbull voters deserve better.”

Thornton stated in a Connecticut Post article on Wednesday that she abstained because the information was new to her. She claimed to receive the information on Friday and she could not review the information because “she was away on vacation in New Hampshire for the weekend.”

“It is clear that the other members of the Town Council, from both parties, understand their obligations to the hard working people of Trumbull as they were prepared to cast a vote on Monday night,” continued Testani, “Everybody had the same opportunity to make it a priority to fulfill their responsibilities as Council representatives.” In addition Testani noted that at the recent Town Council meeting, Town Attorney Edward Walsh was in the first row while Mrs. Thornton issued a statement claiming the Town Attorney was not present at the meeting.

If Mrs. Thornton had questions about the plan, the First Selectman, Finance Director, Chief of Staff and Town Attorney were there to answer the questions. Mrs. Thornton did not ask one question or make one comment during the discussion regarding the defined contribution plan. “As this campaign begins, it is becoming increasingly apparent that Mrs. Thornton speaks more through prepared statements and press releases rather than speaking to issues on the floor of the Town Council.”

Further, Testani pointed out that if Mrs. Thornton did not have enough information, she could have motioned to table the legislation, rather than abstaining.

Finally, Testani acknowledged the strong bipartisan support the legislation had, with 17 members voting in favor of the defined contribution plan. “Mrs. Thornton continues to make weak excuses for actions that cannot be justified. First, Mrs. Thornton gets up and leads a walk out of a Town Council meeting; then, she is one of only two members on the 21 member Town Council to abstain from a vote dealing with one of the most critical issues facing the Town. Certainly Mrs. Thornton could have taken a few minutes out of her weekend vacation in New Hampshire to make sure she was prepared to vote at the meeting.”

Testani went on to state that Thornton’s abstentions from the defined contribution vote and several charter revision related votes, as well as a staged walkout, demonstrates her inability to make tough decisions and stand by them under pressure – – qualities that are essential for any municipal chief executive that is governing under the constraints of a severe economic downturn. “Mrs. Thornton could have voted “no” and defended her position. But instead, three months before an election, she decided not to take a position. Her comments in the Connecticut Post, whereby she said that she “would have voted against it, but I didn’t have enough information” underscores this point. Both the defined contribution vote and charter revision vote passed with bi-partisan support. Being a leader is about taking a stand and not just a seat and Mrs. Thornton does not understand that these qualities are necessary when managing a Town.”

Vinti Singh