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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

10/11/11 John Blankley OP-ED


Hello,

Please see attached OP-ED piece from First Selectman candidate John Blankley. Thanks!!

Christopher Smith

10 YEARS AGO I HAD ONE BOSS, NOW I HAVE 200 BOSSES, MY CUSTOMERS. IN SEEKING THE OFFICE OF FIRST SELECTMAN I AM GOING TO HAVE OVER 60,000 CUSTOMERS – THE RESIDENTS OF OUR TOWN.

MY FIRST ASSESSMENT IS THAT MY NEW CUSTOMERS, GOING DOOR TO DOOR AND MEETING MANY OF THEM, ARE NOT HAPPY. THEY WANT TO BE BETTER SERVED BY TOWN HALL, THEY WANT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TO BE IMPROVED, THEY WANT ISSUES THAT HAVE ACCUMULATED OVER YEARS TO BE TACKLED.

I LOOK AT THE TOWN AS A BUSINESS. THE 60,000 CUSTOMERS ARE ALSO SHAREHOLDERS AND IF WE WERE QUOTED ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE OUR STOCK WOULD BE DOWN! BECAUSE THE BUSINESS IS NOT BEING WELL MANAGED. WE’RE SUFFERING FROM BENIGN NEGLECT. WE’VE LOST OUR STRATEGIC FOCUS.

WE’RE IN A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY AND WE NEED TO GET OUR ACT TOGETHER. WHAT IS OUR STRATEGIC GOAL? I SAY IT IS TO ENHANCE THE PROSPERITY AND REPUTATION OF OUR TOWN. THAT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO GRASP THE NETTLES OF DECLINING SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE DECAY. SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR ARE THE KEY BECAUSE YOUNG FAMILIES COMING TO GREENWICH, AS WE DID ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO, ARE LOOKING FOR SUPERIOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I’M A BUSINESSMAN, NOT A LIFELONG POLITICIAN. I HAVE 30 YEARS OF MANAGING AND FINANCING LARGE PROJECTS, HANDLING LARGE BUDGETS AND 10 YEARS AS AN ENTREPRENEUR, CREATING A COMPANY THAT NOW HAS 30 EMPLOYEES.

I OFFER BUSINESS LEADERSHIP TO GREENWICH: THE FIRST SELECTMAN IS THE CEO OF THE TOWN AND IN THAT ROLE I WILLSET STRATEGY AND HOLD PEOPLE AND BOARDS ACCOUNTABLE FOR PERFORMANCE. WE NEED TO BE SHAKEN OUT OF OUR LETHARGY.

GREENWICH IS YEARNING FOR A FIRM HAND AT THE HELM AND I OFFER IT.

I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE AND YOUR OVERWHELMING SUPPORT ON NOVEMBER 8th.

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