Trumbull Republican Town Committee chairman Jack Testani issued a statement in which he said Democrat first selectman candidate Mary Beth Thornton “does not understand (the) qualities (that are) are necessary (for)managing a Town. He was referring to Thornton, a Town Council member, abstaining from a vote on the town pension system. Trumbull Democratic Town Committee chairwoman Nancy DiNardo responded with the following statement:
“Since when are honesty and due diligence bad leadership traits? Mary Beth Thornton abstained from a vote this week, and she was simply saying that there was not enough information to make an informed decision that could possibly raise Trumbull taxes.
At issue was whether to switch from a benefits-focused pension plan to a plan more closely related to a 401k.
This issue, as with many other issues in the chaotic and dysfunctional Tim Herbst Administration, was brought to the Town Council at the last minute with a host of unanswered questions and with no need to for a hasty decision. But Herbst wanted the council to rush the vote. Acquiescence was assumed. Herbst treats the Republican-controlled council as a vehicle for implementing his agenda, not as an equal branch of government that should function independently.
Thornton abstained because she wasn’t satisfied that all details were fully vetted and many questions raised by council members were left unanswered. She acted prudently. She acted in the manner that taxpayers should want and expect from their elected representatives. For that, both Herbst and Testani excoriated her for political gain.
I would much rather have a leader who is open and forthcoming, than a first selectman like Herbst, who is well- known to intimidate and bully people into submission when their opinions are contrary to his.
But Testani’s point about abstention is extraordinarily hypocritical. He himself, as a member of the Board of Finance a few years back, abstained from the much more important vote to adopt a municipal budget. And more recently, the entire Republican membership of the Board of Finance abstained in the vote to adopt a town budget.
So Mr. Testani, my question to you is this: Is abstaining from a vote only good public policy when Republicans do it?”