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Breaking News…

Press, Press Release, slate

Don Lowe is the New First Selectman with Kevin Keenan as Selectman

“Unofficial results showed Lowe winning with 726 votes to Cope’s 636 votes. Cope garnered less votes than his running mate, Bob Ostrosky, and Lowe’s running mate, Kevin Keenan, and will thus be off the board when his term is up.” said the Newstimes.

“It was the men’s second time facing off for the town’s top office. But while Lowe lost his race for first selectman in 2015 to Cope by just 80 votes, he outgunned the Republican incumbent Tuesday by 90 votes, according to unofficial results.” added the Newstimes.

“I’m deeply moved by the message from the voters of Sherman,” Lowe said. “I’m deeply honored. A lot of people put their hard work and sweat into this campaign.”

Supports the Democrat’s Clean Campaign, Not the Republican’s Attacks

Letters to the Editor, Press

From Town Tribune Nov 2, 2017. To the Editor: For the record, I never ‘liked’ or ‘requested to join’ Friends of Sherman Republican Town Committee as they recently posted in Facebook. I saw that several other people experienced the same thing; two are on the Democratic Town Committee! I am registered unaffiliated voter.

Are we being hacked? Really? in Sherman? Do we really need to bring the underhanded filth in DC to our town? Do we need the unending personal attacks because someone runs against you in an election? This degrading behavior affects us all, bringing our town to new lows.

I would like to believe the town I’ve lived in for 35 years and raised our children, would be better than what I’ve experienced firsthand with our first selectman. That all of us could engage in civil discourse and still be neighbors, even friends, regardless of our differences. This has become impossible over the last 4 years.

I fully support Don Lowe and Kevin Keenen, not only for their superior qualifications that directly; pertain to the positions they are seeking, but, because they have run a clean, positive campaign, and, are simply decent human beings. We need that now, more than ever.

Catharine Cooke, Sherman

Don Lowe (D): Volunteerism, Openess, Stopping the Waste of Taxes

Press, Press Clipping, Published Article, Where we stand

From Town Tribune, Nov 2, 2017. The best part of the 2017 campaign has been the opportunity to visit with so many Sherman residents and  business owners, and to hear your concerns. These concerns encompass a broad spectrum and they speak to the challenge of being First Selectman and to the type of leader we need here in Sherman: a sincere person who listens and responds to people’s concerns.

As I spoke with Shermanites of all ages and backgrounds, one common thread kept coming up: people expressed that, if I’m elected, they’d like to volunteer to serve Sherman in some capacity. Music to my ears! I believe Sherman is better served by shifting away from oligarchy and, instead, allowing a wider range of people to be involved. One of my immediate goals as your First Selectman is to fill the vacancies that currently exist on our boards and commissions. Your political party won’t matter to me; I just want you to belong to the “I like my town” party. I will also push hard for volunteers to our invaluable Sherman Volunteer Fire Department as well as other important Sherman organizations.

Speaking of amazing organizations: I am so impressed by FISH, a group of dedicated volunteers who have been providing rides to Sherman seniors for 46 years. At the Annual Luncheon last week, Barbara Hoag delivered some remarkable statistics. In the most recent FISH fiscal year, volunteer drivers made 173 trips for 23 different residents, most of which (121) were for doctor appointments but also covered other important needs too 5,898.5 miles of driving! Through 46 years, FISH volunteer drivers have made 6,211 pickups and amassed 204,857 miles. That’s almost four fifths of the way- to the moon! This spirit of neighbors helping neighbors makes Sherman a mighty special place. I am deeply honored to have been a Selectman for six years in such a wonderful town.

Thank you to those who attended the candidate debates that the Town Tribune did such a fine job of hosting. They went very well and I enjoyed getting the opportunity to get my points of view across. One of the debate highlights for me was hearing my running-mate Kevin Keenen speak. Kevin spoke openly and responded to audience questions with a modest honesty that I found refreshing. He has no political ax to grind and calls them like he sees them. I have been fortunate to learn so much from Kevin as he and I discuss issues concerning Sherman. His expertise on infrastructure and building alone makes him a valuable person, especially now, for Sherman. I truly appreciate him stepping up.

Please vote for Kevin!

If I am your First Selectman you can expect to have your tax dollars valued and not wasted or over-spent. You can expect a fair tone of government and when you attend meetings and want to express something that you feel is important you will be treated with respect. When people came to me, for example, about concerns over Sherman’s air quality from the Cricket Valley power plant, I took them seriously. One thing I would like to start doing now is to monitor our air quality so that when the plant opens for business, we have a baseline for an air quality comparison pre-Cricket Valley vs. post-Cricket Valley. (By the. way, I didn’t think of that myself. A smart and concerned Sherman resident offered me that idea as we were discussing Sherman’s future with a power plant just miles off our border.)

As your First Selectman, you can expect me to fight for fairness and the protection of our Candlewood Lake Authority so it can continue to protect our lake. You can expect me to work successfully, cheerfully, and in synergy with our public works department, our boards and commissions, and our town staff to enable Sherman to fully realize its potential. You can expect me to take great interest in our senior population and in assuring that the terrific people who already help our seniors are respected and served by my office. As a First Selectman, you will see me at BOE meetings ready in any way to help our Sherman School. That extends to our high school students and also students seeking higher education as I have already demonstrated through my 16 years with the Sherman Higher Education Fund Board. You can expect me to help our business community thrive. (I loved John Jenner’s presentation, by the way, about a Roger Sherman Trail, which only offers upside for our businesses.) And Sherman folks? If you come into Town Hall, my door will be open and I will look forward to listening to you, to helping you, and bringing an inclusive approach back to the First Selectman’s office. I humbly ask for your vote on November 7th.

Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty Endorses Lowe/Keenan

Letters to the Editor, Press, Press Release, slate

From Town Tribune, Nov 2, 2017. To the Editor: “I’m proud to support Don Lowe and Kevin Keenan for the Board of Selectmen. I know that as First Selectman, Don will work hard to protect Candlewood Lake as a beautiful resource for generations to come. He un-derstands the value of listening to residents, and working collaboratively with others to get results -values that served me well when I was a member of my Town Council.”

I ask the people of Sherman to vote for Don Lowe and Kevin Keenan on November 7th. Working together, we can get things done for Connecticut. “
-Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty

Don Lowe Has Earned Our Support

Letters to the Editor, Press

From Town Tribune Oct 26, 2017. To the Editor: Sherman needs a leader who is dedicated to the Town and to the position.

In the years that I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Don, I’ve found him to be an intense listener who cares about only one thing- doing  what’s right for the Town. Don has shown that he not only listens to his constituents, but he actually gives thoughtful and careful consideration to their views. Don is a true outdoors man and understands that many of us choose to live in Sherman due to its natural beauty and the many recreational opportunities that it affords. As an adjunct professor and advanced degree holder, Don understands the importance of a strong educational system in Sherman.

Candlewood Lake has experienced challenges that included milfoil and blue green algae. New Fairfield’s Chapman/Hodge pursued a wildly unpopular and unwise plan to introduce for the first time chemicals into Candlewood Lake without consultation with the other Towns or the CLA. Fortunately, Don Lowe became an outspoken and well informed critic of this plan, at one point spending several hours to review the complex factors influencing Candlewood’s water quality. Mr. Cope, despite being presented with a petition signed by scores of Sherman residents who opposed this plan stayed mute—no doubt not wanting to go against his earliest supporters for his failed run for congress- New Fairfield’s Chapman and Hodge who were championing the introduction of dangerous chemicals into Candlewood.

Sherman has only one full time Selectman. We can’t risk re-electing an official who allowed the very real campaign demands of a US Congressional campaign to cause selectman meetings to be cancelled, public comment periods to be truncated and poor decisions to be made that were dictated by the demands of political influences both inside and outside of Sherman.

Don is a homeowner and taxpayer whose interests are closely aligned with the long term interests of the community. He has pledged that the First Selectman job will be his only focus. Don cares deeply about our community and will increase governmental openness and transparency fostering greater community involvement in managing our Town. Don has earned our support.

Scott Randall, Sherman

Cope’s Lack of Leadship is a Very Bad Sign for Sherman

Letters to the Editor, Press

From the Town Tribune, Oct 26, 2017.  To the Editor: One would never expect a First Selectman to willfully violate a local zoning regulation because, after all, what kind of example would that set for the rest of us? But this is precisely what Clay Cope has done.

Before ordering a rather large sign for the new Wash Station, he was advised to first check with Zoning to be sure it conformed to code. He did not, and it did not. He spent taxpayer money to purchase it anyway, intentionally choosing to not pay attention to an important regulation that everyone else is subject to. When the non-conforming sign was put up, the Land Use Enforcement Officer had no choice but to cite it as being in violation of a zoning regulation.

The consequence to the enforcement officer for not looking the other way, but instead doing his job in a professional and non-partisan manner, was to receive notice that his hours were being cut.

Does any of this illustrate good leadership, the kind you would want  for another two years? You do not need my twenty-five years of Sherman land use board experience to know that the town itself is never exempt from following its own rules.

As a former member of Planning and Zoning, shouldn’t Mr. Cope be especially knowledgeable, mindful and respectful of all of our zoning regulations, particularly as First Selectman? It’s shocking that he evidently believes that regulations which apply to the rest of the town do not necessarily apply to him.

The sign is still there. The sign is still in violation. It’s a very bad sign.
Joe Chiaramonte, Sherman

Vote for Lowe-Keenan

Letters to the Editor, Press

From Town Tribune, Oct 26, 2017. To the Editor: I pose the following questions for thought when you go to cast your ballot next week.

First, to the people of Sherman that have been without cell service for six years. All we have to date is a statement by the current Republican team that they are in negotiations with adjacent municipalities of which, they admitted at the debate, will still not provide service to all of southern Sherman. This is simply not acceptable to homeowners and first responders.

Second, to the elderly who are the backbone of this town’s elected and voluntary positions and find themselves in financial or medical straits, has anything been actually done to alleviate your situation? Does one actually believe that a $300 credit is a tipping point in changing your circumstances?

The above referenced group of people that are affected from these shortcomings are your fellow Shermanites who you see at church, school, town events,and the IGA. Do they not deserve the same cell service you enjoy? Do they not deserve some compassion in their golden years after giving of their time to enrich the life that you enjoy in this town?

If you agree with me that this is just wrong, then please cast your vote next week for Don Lowe for First Selectman and Kevin Keenan for Selectman.

Richard Connell, Sherman

In Support of Kevin Keenan

Letters to the Editor, Press

From Town Tribune, Oct 26, 2017 To the Editor:  We support Kevin Keenan for the position of Selectman for the town of Sherman.

His dedication to family, friends, and our town of Sherman makes
him an outstanding citizen. He will bring his knowledge of community
services and how to keep them function efficiently to Sherman. He will
excel in the position of Selectman.

We support Don Lowe for 1st Selectman and Kevin Keenan for Selectman for the town of Sherman, Connecticut.

The Wakatsuki-Wentink family, Sherman