A number of New Scotland Republican Party members have resigned from the committee, and have chosen to endorse candidate Doug LaGrange, who also recently took leave from the committee.
LaGrange issued an email to party leadership stating he will remain a Republican, but will not be an active member of the committee on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Six members have joined him; Kurt Anderson, Chuck Voss, Joe Defronzo, Susan Defronzo, Janna Shillinglaw, Jason Windsor, on Friday, Oct. 2.
During the recent primary for choosing Republican candidates for Town Council and Supervisor in New Scotland, it has become apparent that the very
different views of the candidates regarding the future direction of our town in relation to commercial and industrial development has opened a deep schism within the local Republican Committee that cannot be healed, their letter states.
A copy can be found here:
Chairman Graziano,
During the recent primary for choosing Republican candidates for Town Council and Supervisor in New Scotland, it has become apparent that the very
different views of the candidates regarding the future direction of our town in relation to commercial and industrial development has opened a deep schism within the local Republican Committee that cannot be healed.
We members of the Republican Committee that support Doug LaGrange, strongly hold the opinion that unfettered retail development in our town will result in serious negative impacts and dramatically increased costs to Town residents for such things as fire, emergency services and policing which will not be offset by the taxes paid by the developers. We also recognize
that unchecked, large-scale commercial development is in direct opposition to the Comprehensive Plan and will result in diminishing the quality of life that we New Scotland residents hold precious.
The other members of the Republican Committee as well as candidates Roz Robinson and Mike Fields have shown that they will not act to limit inappropriate, large-scale growth in our community.
Those of us that support Doug LaGrange, put the goal of community preservation and limited commercial retail development ahead of zealous and blind party politics. Just like Doug LaGrange, we are all long-time loyal
Republicans who have worked hard to promote the conservative principals of our party, and build the Republican party in New Scotland. However in the
face of such enormous consequences for our community this election year, we cannot and will not support those candidates and their supporters on the GOP Committee who would purposely leave us open to unchecked growth…growth which would have profound adverse and irreversible impacts on our community for decades to come. We remain committed to the core Republican ideals of quality local government that delivers responsive representation and affordable necessary services as desired by the majority of residents. As such, we remain as members of the Republican Party and fully understand that elections do have consequences. Accordingly, we are putting our full support and endorsement behind Doug LaGrange and are resigning as members of the New
Scotland Republican Committee effective October 1, 2009.
Respectfully,
Kurt Anderson
Chuck Voss
Joe Defronzo
Susan Defronzo
Janna Shillinglaw
Jason Windsor
Check back at www.spotlightnews.com and the Wednesday, Oct. 7 edition of the Spotlight Newspaper for an update.
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