10 Reasons to Vote Only for Stephen Devoto on September 10

On September 10, Middletown will hold a primary for Democratic candidates for Planning and Zoning.  Registered Democrats will be allowed to vote.  I'm voting for Stephen Devoto, and only for Stephen Devoto, and here's why.

1.  Stephen Devoto is the best-qualified of all four candidates for P&Z.  He has a deep understanding of land-use issues in Middletown, and he will make decisions based on the facts, the code and what's best for the city.  He will not succumb to political or party pressure.

2. Stephen Devoto has attended nearly all Planning and Zoning meetings for the past 5 years, covering them for the Middletown Eye.  That means he paid close attention, and needed to understand and explain outcomes to his audience of readers.  Dan Russo, a sitting member of the P&Z, who is running against Stephen missed nearly 40% of the meetings he should have attended during his term.  Reportedly, Rob Blanchard and Paul Turenne, the other two candidates have not attended a single P&Z meeting.  I would not vote for any of these other candidates.

3. Dan Russo, who is running against Devoto, attempted to insult Devoto by calling him "a Republican."  There are a lot of Republicans I respect in town, so I don't understand the attempted slur.  And, ironically, when Russo was chair of the Democratic Town Committee, he demonstrated disloyalty to Democrats by supporting Joe Lieberman against Ned Lamont, who was the duly selected Democratic candidate.  Devoto, by the way, is a lifelong Democrat, and an independent thinker.

4. Stephen Devoto suggested that Democratic P&Z candidates debate the issues facing the commission.  The other three candidates all had excuses as to why they couldn't debate.  Candidate Rob Blanchard called the suggested debate "a cheap publicity stunt."  When is talking about the issues in front of the public a cheap publicity stunt?  What are the other candidates afraid of?  We'll never know, because they didn't accept the challenge.

5. Stephen Devoto was rejected by the Democratic Town Committee.  Some would see that as endorsement enough.  To me it demonstrates that, unfortunately, the DTC does not want to field the best candidates, it only wants candidates who will march lockstep with the party.  The DTC chose two candidates who have no experience with land-use issue in Middletown, but who do have strong connections to the state Democratic machine.  Devoto thinks for himself, and will not let party come in the way of making the right decision.

6. Stephen Devoto has proven his willingness to work hard.  He has attended years of meetings voluntarily.  He collected more than 700 signatures to force a primary.  He has vowed to get the Planning and Zoning commission back to thoughtful plannning.  He's got a powerful brain and he's not afraid to use it.

7. Stephen Devoto opposed the recent zone change which could allow a strip-mall development on Washington Street to destroy historic homes in a historic district, forever changing the character of that neighborhood, and the city.  Dan Russo strongly supported this zone change proposed by a powerful developer.

8. I know Stephen to be thoughtful, even-tempered, intelligent, fair, curious, dutiful, open-minded and concerned about all of Middletown's residents, neighborhoods, merchants, businesspeople and landowners.

9. A "bullet vote" for Stephen Devoto will provide him an advantage over his opponents.  As far as I'm concerned, Devoto is the only candidate worth voting for.  While you are allowed to cast up to 3 votes in the primary, you are not required to (three candidates will be chosen).  Voting for any of his opponents will provide them with an undue advantage.  Voting only for Devoto means that the vote-tally of his opponents will not increase.

10. Because planning in Middletown is too important to be left only to the developers, all of whom have a vested interest in the changes they suggest.

I will be voting for Stephen Devoto, and only for Stephen Devoto, for Planning and Zoning on September 10, and I suggest you do too.