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Health & Fitness

I Won't Back Down

Free speech extends to all of us, regardless of party affiliation.

I have always liked Tom Petty's song "I Won't Back Down."

It has a catchy beat and classic all-American lyrics. However, in the past six years or so the song has gained extra meaning to me.

I am a frequent commenter on stories on Stratford Patch and have my own blog. In blogging I lend my point of view as someone that has a specialized knowledge and history regarding our town and its government. In doing so I can be critical about those in town government where I think it is warranted, but my posts are meant to raise issues and ask questions that challenge those in power to explain their actions.

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However, rather than engage in an issue-oriented debate, Stratford's country club Republicans choose not to explain or defend their policy decisions but deflect my questions and comments with that age-old political strategy of attacking. So, over and over again, a handful of partisans slam me with their talking points. How Washington, D.C. of them!

Even worse, these same partisans have rather impolitely told me to (and I will paraphrase here) "go away." I guess in the America where Stratford's country club Republicans live only their voice gets to be heard.

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I suppose we shouldn't expect more from Stratford’s Republican party. For the past 25-plus years the Stratford GOP has controlled the vast majority of the Town Council, Board of Education and land use boards, and they are used to getting their own way. God forbid anyone dare question them. When that happens they put their attack machine in motion to kill any opposition. Sadly, they are very good at this. Person after person has told me they will not get involved in Stratford politics because it is so personal and nasty. Unfortunately, they are right. And that is wrong.

This, of course, is the problem in living in a place that is dominated by one political party. Stratford's local Republican party has become arrogant. They think they are beyond reproach. Power is theirs and anyone that gets in their way will be plowed over with personal attacks, whispers and an old-fashioned smear campaign.

However, try as Stratford Republicans may to keep the focus on their talking points, the following facts are indisputable: When I was mayor taxes were kept under control, there were no mass layoffs, no service reductions, our budgets were balanced (we even had small surpluses), Wall Street upgraded our bond rating three times and the town looked very good.

Moreover, I accomplished all that with a partisan and obstructionist Town Council and a muckraking daily newspaper "reporter" who ultimately was fired but not before the damage to my reputation and our town was done.

Imagine what we could have accomplished if the Town Council worked with me instead of against me!

So, forgive me for being proud of the accomplishments of my terms as mayor, but I am. For sure, I was not perfect -- but who is? Mistakes were made. However, to deny all the good things that happened is simply unfair.

So, when I see things going on today that need someone to stand up and speak up, well, I guess I am who I am and, to quote Mr. Petty, I won't back down.

Jim Miron, former mayor of Stratford and attorney-at-law

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