McPherson, Klaskin Face Off In MPOA Debate

The two candidates for Madison's top office, First Selectman, met and debated issues relating to the town Tuesday night at Memorial Town Hall, in an event sponsored by the Madison Property Owner's Association. 

With Bob Maloney, a MPOA board member, doing introductions, and Brian Boyd, Managing Editor or Shore Publishing, moderating, incumbent Republican Fillmore McPherson and challenger Democrat Seth Klaskin discussed ways to improve the town and schools, the best way to reduce employee expenses, how to make the budget process more transparent, how to deal with declining enrollment in the town's schools and other issues. 

While the candidates agreed on some issues, they had sharp differences about the best way to handle tax relief for seniors, and how to handle special appropriations, among other issues. 

The debates were taped by Madison Public Television and as soon as the footage is edited and aired, it will run between now and the election on Tuesday, Nov. 5th. The schedule will be posted here when the show is ready.

McPherson cites track record

McPherson went first and said Madison residents should vote for him because of his proven track record. He emphasized that he was running on proven results, not promises. He noted that four years ago, before he took office, the town was struggling with a police department that was a "laughing stock." The town now has a police department that is one of the best in the state, he said. During the same time, the town's legal expenses have been reduced by almost two thirds, while the town is also managing to keep most "lawsuits at bay."

McPherson said he has overseen eleven major construction projects while in office, including seven that were planned and four that were unplanned and caused by weather events. The planned projects include the successful consolidation of the Madison-Guilford Probate Court, the Ambulance Garage, the Senior Center, the town garage, Overbrook Road, Strong Field, and Constitution Park. The unplanned projects include the Bradley Corners Road Bridge, Middle Beach Road, the Surf Club seawall, and West Wharf.  

He said he completed these projects while keeping overall budgets in line with inflation. He also oversaw two rounds of refinancing of the town's bonds, which resulted in savings of $1.4 million. He said he has helped secure the long-term health to the town by transitioning new employees to a 401K retirement plan, instead of the defined benefit plan offered to existing employees. He noted that the town has a AAA bond rating from Moody's and Fitch, a rating that is better than the sovereign debt of the United States. 

McPherson said his reorganization of the Land Use Department has provided better customer service, and has helped encourage economic development. He also cited as an accomplishment his leadership during Irene, Sandy, and the Blizzard of 2013. 

Klaskin cites experience on town boards

Klaskin said his goal, if elected, will be to "achieve consensual progress while keeping the town's fiscal posture strong, and while keeping tax rates reasonable and stable." He cited his background which includes seven years on the Board of Education, including three terms as the board's policy chairman, and three years on the Zoning Board of Appeals. He said he and his wife had a law practice in town, and that six years ago he took a job as a public administrator with the Secretary of the State's Office, where he directs the Commercial Record Division, which is the state's business registry. 

Klaskin said that within the last five  years, he's reduced his department budget from just under $12 million to just under $4 million a year. He said that he was also able to eliminate "longstanding 9- to 12-month backlogs, "while offering robust new programming to the businesses of the state." He said his experience working with state policymakers and economic development officials "will put Madison back on the map in Hartford." 

Klaskin said his plan, if elected, will be to do a better job with economic development, stabilize the property tax situation for seniors in town, build consensus around town projects before spending money on them, making the budgeting process more "transparent and honest," and increasing reserves. 

"Failing to preserve adequate reserves creates the short-term impression of keeping control of tax rate increase," he said. "However it is an irresponsible prescription for disaster that will ultimately compromise our bond ratings and cost us more money when we need to borrow." 

Tomorrow, the candidates on the schools.