The following was a letter to the editor in the Milford Weekly on April 10, 2008 written by Linda Stephenson, DTC Vice-Chair.

Political division -
not what city needs

To the Editor:

Simply the worst of all politics are evidenced by Republican Jack Fowler's recent comments in the press, the politics of fear and division. Having no official capacity in Milford, the local press continues to seek out Fowler's comments simply for their amusing shock value. His latest, Limbaugh-esque comment contended that any restoration of funding to Milford's education system would result in senior citizens being put out of their homes. Of course, Fowler has no basis for these comments other than to criticize and divide our community and to turn parents against seniors and neighbor against neighbor. Fowler remains out of touch with the character of our city. Otherwise he would know the people of Milford reject his brand of attack and assail politics. Unlike his partisan world of the right-wing National Review [Jack Fowler is the publisher], the people of Milford look to the two political parties in Milford to work together in the best interest of all of our citizens.

Fowler is not alone in embracing an attack first, ask questions later approach. Last week Milford Democrats were attacked by the Republican Town Chair for spending too little on a senior tax relief plan. At the same time Democrats were also being criticized by Republican Aldermen Wiley and Ditchkus for spending too much on the plan. Which is it? These guys sure seem to agree that the best approach to public policy is to attack the Democrats even if they apparently can't agree on why. "Fire, aim, ready."

Democrats have been on task these past many weeks, sleeves rolled up and pencils sharpened, working many long days to find that delicate balance between the needs of our seniors, our children and the hardworking taxpayers of Milford. Democrats are working to turn back the tax increases of the past six years of over 5 percent a year. Rather than attack, divide, frighten or criticize I would call upon the Republicans to join the Democrats in the work at hand.

Linda Stephenson