NORWICH – A political newcomer is challenging a one-term incumbent in the city’s only contested primary Tuesday – a race for the Republican ticket in November’s 6th Ward Alderman election.
No matter who wins Tuesday, the two could still meet again in the general election.
Dan Palmer, a resident of 18 Hickok Ave. and owner of The Broad Street Tavern, says he’s making his first run for office to get involved in the community, be a leader who’s visible in the 6th Ward, and better understand city spending and policy making. He believes there are opportunities worth looking into that could strengthen Norwich’s economy long-term – such as transforming the city’s Morrisville State campus into its own college – and restore it to past glory.
Incumbent Robert Jeffrey’s objectives if re-elected: Mitigate the city’s rising state retirement costs; continue to secure funding for cleaning up blighted properties in the 6th Ward and elsewhere; encourage developers and landlords to build and rent quality housing; and keep working to restore the safety and sense of civic responsibility once prominent in his neighborhood and others before manufacturing jobs faded.
Primary polls open will be open from noon until 9 p.m. in the Norwich High School gym lobby on Midland Drive.
Jeffrey and Palmer handed in petitions as independents, meaning who ever loses Tuesday could still run in the general election on an independent party line.
Concerns
Both men say the city also has to find new ways of generating money other than by raising taxes on people’s homes.
“We need to drive revenue aside from property tax,” said Jeffrey, who’s worked at Frontier Communications and lived at 17 York St. for nearly 25 years. “We need to work with developers and investors and come up with a plan for controlled growth within the city.”
“The city has to have other ways of making money,” said Palmer. “There are always going to be taxes, but you need more businesses to take up some of that load (by way of sales tax) so your people aren’t paying for it all.”
On fiscal responsibility, Jeffrey said the city’s state retirement costs, based on its number of employees eligible for state benefits, needs to be reexamined.
“Right now the state’s retirement pension contributions are a concern. Signs point to it rising almost $100k next year and that’s a concern and we have to look at areas where we can cut back,” he said.
Area officials have recently expressed disdain over an average 4.1 and 4.5 percent increase announced earlier this month in the state’s two employee pension funds. The city’s cost – which was $428,000 in 2009 – is expected to go up nearly $100k next year; bringing it back to historic levels it reached during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 time periods, according to the state comptroller.
Palmer wants a better look at the city’s books.
“I’m interested in how they (the city) spend their money,” said Palmer. “I don’t want to see the (city) so tight with money. I’d like to see them spend it differently,” he said, although he could not say specifically what on.
The 6th Ward
