CROMWELL — -
It's politics as usual in Cromwell, where a commission member recently called a newly elected selectman a "Nazi."
The exchange occurred after a selectmen's meeting Monday. Jonathan Beatty, Democratic chairman of the inland wetlands agency, walked up to Ann Marie Halibozek, a Democratic selectman, and said, "Sieg, Heil! Sieg, Heil! Jew Nazi!" according to Halibozek.
Beatty corrected Halibozek's memory Tuesday. "Technically, it's 'Damn Nazi,'" he said.
As a result, Mark Corvo — an unsuccessful petitioning candidate for the board of selectmen — has asked Democratic First Selectman John Flanders to remove Beatty as chairman of the watercourse agency. Corvo forwarded his request to Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who declined to comment.
"This is just another episode in a continuing pattern of harassment directed against Ms. Halibozek by disgruntled members of the Cromwell Democratic party ..." Corvo wrote in an e-mail to Flanders.
Flanders said he hasn't decided how he will handle the matter, but said he will speak with Halibozek and Beatty, who has refused to step down as chairman of the commission.
"I think there's a lot of highly charged feelings in town politics and I'm sorry about that," Flanders said. "My hope and expectation is that we will move along toward a more civil conversation."
Beatty said his comments were designed to show Halibozek his "revulsion" over her decision before the election to call police after a resident taped over her name on a campaign sign displayed on the resident's lawn.
He said the phone call was Halibozek's way of intimidating her political adversaries.
"I consider that to be possibly a criminal act," Beatty said.
The police did not.
Halibozek said Beatty never referred to that incident Monday. About 20 people were milling about, when Beatty, at town hall for an unrelated meeting, approached Halibozek, uttered his remarks and left.
"I was speechless at first," Halibozek said. "The room went silent."
Still, Beatty said he's looking forward to working with Halibozek, the board's liaison to the watercourse agency. Halibozek, a former agency member, was one of its best-informed members, he said.
Beatty said he made his remarks as "a little bit of, shall we say, political theater."
"I gather she was a little bit shaken up by that, and that was not the intent," he said.
Halibozek called police, who visited Beatty Monday night.
"They kind of suggested that maybe calling people a Nazi wasn't a good idea," he said.
"I'll probably have to work with her on other things in the future, but at the same time, she's on the board of selectmen," he said. "My guess is she's going to be called a lot worse by people other than me."
The exchange occurred after a selectmen's meeting Monday. Jonathan Beatty, Democratic chairman of the inland wetlands agency, walked up to Ann Marie Halibozek, a Democratic selectman, and said, "Sieg, Heil! Sieg, Heil! Jew Nazi!" according to Halibozek.
Beatty corrected Halibozek's memory Tuesday. "Technically, it's 'Damn Nazi,'" he said.
As a result, Mark Corvo — an unsuccessful petitioning candidate for the board of selectmen — has asked Democratic First Selectman John Flanders to remove Beatty as chairman of the watercourse agency. Corvo forwarded his request to Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who declined to comment.
"This is just another episode in a continuing pattern of harassment directed against Ms. Halibozek by disgruntled members of the Cromwell Democratic party ..." Corvo wrote in an e-mail to Flanders.
Flanders said he hasn't decided how he will handle the matter, but said he will speak with Halibozek and Beatty, who has refused to step down as chairman of the commission.
"I think there's a lot of highly charged feelings in town politics and I'm sorry about that," Flanders said. "My hope and expectation is that we will move along toward a more civil conversation."
Beatty said his comments were designed to show Halibozek his "revulsion" over her decision before the election to call police after a resident taped over her name on a campaign sign displayed on the resident's lawn.
He said the phone call was Halibozek's way of intimidating her political adversaries.
"I consider that to be possibly a criminal act," Beatty said.
The police did not.
Halibozek said Beatty never referred to that incident Monday. About 20 people were milling about, when Beatty, at town hall for an unrelated meeting, approached Halibozek, uttered his remarks and left.
"I was speechless at first," Halibozek said. "The room went silent."
Still, Beatty said he's looking forward to working with Halibozek, the board's liaison to the watercourse agency. Halibozek, a former agency member, was one of its best-informed members, he said.
Beatty said he made his remarks as "a little bit of, shall we say, political theater."
"I gather she was a little bit shaken up by that, and that was not the intent," he said.
Halibozek called police, who visited Beatty Monday night.
"They kind of suggested that maybe calling people a Nazi wasn't a good idea," he said.
"I'll probably have to work with her on other things in the future, but at the same time, she's on the board of selectmen," he said. "My guess is she's going to be called a lot worse by people other than me."
As a fellow Democrat I am embarrassed by Mr. Beatty's remarks. He should be immediately step down. Freedom of speech is 1 thing, but he has crossed the line. I don't know these individuals personally, however his attack is disgusting. He has shown no remorse for what he said. "A little bit of, shall we say, political theater." - You sir are an embarrassment to the town "
CROMWELLITE (11/13/2009, 9:45 AM )