Editor’s Note: Apologies as Charter Communications made the error tonight of showing Interview one at 7:00PM, even though a regularly scheduled show is usually shown at this time, and therefore will be showing Interview two at 7:30PM.
“Conservative Chat” – Tonight, Sunday, November 5th, 2017 at 7:30PM and 8:00PM on Charter Cable Channel 191, the Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee presents the first and second interviews with Republican First Selectman and Selectman Candidates Mark Hemenway and Nick Lukiwsky with BRTC Chair and Host Juliana Simone.
Mark and Nick discuss their backgrounds, family lives and careers, their opinion on public safety for the town of Barkhamsted and the resident trooper issue, the problems with the debate when first organized, taxes and their goals as First Selectman and Selectman.
For those not in the viewing area or who are not Charter subscribers, interview I can be seen by clicking this link:
Barkhamsted – A third mailer sent to town residents by the Democrat Town Committee and First Selectman Incumbent Don Stein, tried to suggest to voters that State Representative William Simanski endorsed Don Stein for First Selectman this 2017 election by creating a window on the right inside of a fold out flyer with a scan of the legislator’s photo and a copy and pasted sentence from years ago, the legislator believes he sent Stein in an email, as he did to the other First Selectman in the four towns that make up his district. Rep. Simanski told BRTC Chair, Juliana Simone, over the phone, he sent this to Stein at the time to be professional and as a courtesy since he has to work with him.
Simanski was surprised to hear his communication to First Selectman Don Stein was being featured in a Democrat mailer and said this was the first he heard of it. He confirmed he is fully endorsing Republican Candidate Selectman Mark Hemenway for First Selectman of Barkhamsted this 2017 election. His very enthusiastic endorsement of Hemenway can be read in the second mailer sent out by the Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee:
“With Mark Hemenway’s experience on the Board of Selectman, familiarity with the school system, and his creative problem solving skills, he is ideally suited to lead Barkhamsted into a better, more prosperous future as First Selectman.” – State Rep. Bill Simanski
Democrat Municipal Election Third Mailer 2017
This Democrat mailer also continued the false idea that if Mark Hemenway and running mate Nick Lukiwsky were elected, they would do away with the resident state trooper. Another untrue talking point from Don Stein and his campaign team, in that Mark and Nick, a Waterbury police lieutenant, have made it clear in two cable interviews, RTC mailers and interviews that they are just seeking a more affordable solution for taxpayers that will still keep public safety in our schools and for residents a priority.
The Democrat mailer also continues the tired and repetitive impression that if Candidate Mark Hemenway was elected, he would not be fulfilling his First Selectman duties full time. Stein, in his early seventies and retired, tells Barkhamsted voters he is able, as a result, to be at the town hall all the time and anyone with another job would not be able to do the same. Town hall workers have made note for years that Don is not always there and cumulatively spends weeks away throughout the year.
Hemenway, who noted in his recent public debate at the Barkhamsted Elementary School, and has said in other interviews, he works from home right around the corner from the town hall, so he can be there anytime with ease and easily as much as Stein. During the debate, he pointed out to attendees that the recent tax sale conducted by the town on foreclosed properties, something the incumbent made a positive in his answer time, that Stein wasn’t even there, and he and tax collector Terri Collins (D) proceeded over the event.
Editor’s Note: This press release was sent to the Republican American newspaper on the date written. Their reporter assigned to cover Barkhamsted, a friend of Mr. Stein’s, followed up on this and told First Selectman Candidate, Mark Hemenway, she had already spoke to Don Stein the previous day. This means a lot of time passed before she contacted both Hemenway and petitioning candidate Deborah Simon.
Statement: First Selectman Don Stein Tries to Influence Debate Questions by Soliciting Supporters Help
Barkhamsted – In the debate rules for the upcoming First Selectman race between three candidates, Democrat incumbent Don Stein, Republican Selectman, Mark Hemenway, and Petitioning Candidate Deborah Simon, the Barkhamsted Women’s Club, who was asked by Stein to moderate the debate, stated on their website in a message for all town residents and a call for questions, “We welcome questions from residents.” The deadline for submissions was by midnight, October 17, 2017.
They stipulated further, “All questions received will be grouped by topic and questions regarding the top topics will be asked as time allows. Therefore it is important you submit your question(s) of interest even if you know that another resident has already submitted a question on the topic. Submitting a question is your way to vote for the questions asked.” The club noted “All candidates will respond to the same questions.” A reminder of the deadline for questions followed to be received via email or U.S. Postal service.
It has now been discovered that shortly before the deadline for resident questions, incumbent First Selectman Don Stein sent an email blast to dozens of fellow Barkhamsted Town Hall workers, Candidates and supporters, asking them to submit four specific questions he wanted moderators to ask at the scheduled debate. “The deadline for debate questions is tonight at midnight and I ask that you submit as many of these as you can to help improve the odds that they will get used: Thanks, Don.”
Petitioning candidate Deborah Simon’s reaction to this information in a shared correspondence was, “Do you think that it is ethical for Don Stein to be loading the questions for the debate? He sent this to his supporters. I was asked by one of my supporters what they should ask and I answered that I couldn’t suggest questions because it would be unethical.”
Republican challenger Selectman Mark Hemenway, had this to say about Stein’s interference, “I am shocked and disappointed to hear my challenger felt this insecure heading into our debate he believed he had to pad things in his favor with the unknown help of supporters to try and win.” Hemenway, says he is still willing to debate the sitting First Selectman but the rules would have to be changed in such a way no tampering could affect the questions for the candidates.
The Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee made this statement:
“We feel it is unethical and dishonest for any candidate to control the submissions of topics for selection and to try to shape the direction of the debate. It’s a clear attempt to stack the deck in the favor of Mr. Stein by corrupting the pool of residential questions. We feel Mr. Stein should be disqualified from participating in this event, as it violates the intent of an impartial and fair debate. These actions made by the First Selectman should be very disturbing to voters.”
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Email sent to Barkhamsted Town Hall workers, Democrat candidates and supporters from First Selectman Don Stein (D). Recipients have been blacked out as a courtesy, however, if needed they will be disclosed in the future.
“Conservative Chat” – Tonight, October 12th, 2017, at 7PM on Charter Cable channel 191, the Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee presents an interview with municipal candidates Board of Selectman Mark Hemenway and his running mate, Nick Lukiwsky. This half-hour interview with BRTC Chair and host, Juliana Simone, introduces the First Selectman and Board of Selectman candidate to the voters of Barkhamsted who do not already know them, shows why they are the fresh new team to lead the town and why residents should vote for them on November 7th.
This program will repeat on Sunday, October 15th, 2015 at 7:30PM on Charter Cable channel 191 and is available online on www.ctv191.com
(l) First Selectman Candidate Mark Hemenway and (r) Board of Selectman Candidate Nick Lukiwsky
Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee and CT GOP news
