Trumbull GOP's Herbst asks fiscl change

Declaring that the town needs a "complete fiscal overhaul," Republican first selectman candidate Timothy M. Herbst on Monday laid out a vision that calls for keeping budget growth below the rate of inflation, asking financial professionals to identify $1 million in operational savings, and vowing to personally review "every purchase order that ...

[Trumbull rez]

Tim Herbst has some great ideas for our town of Trumbull. Ray Baldwin with his 11% budget increases and his old buddies need to GO.

[Notready4primeti me]

Can you really vote for a guy living in his parent's basement? I dont think so.

[Lets Talk]

Any ideas for cutting the 80% of the budget that represents Trumbull public education ? I'd like to hear some plans to save some millions there; then we'd have a candidacy to consider.
My guess is that Tim would be likely to give the Board of Ed a blank check, but I'd like to be proven wrong!

[Lives at home]

Here is a guy with some great ideas, dedicated, smart, etc.

What does he know about the real world of paying bills, taxes, etc?

Still living at home at 28.

Buy a home at least.

[BlahBlahBlah]

Hey Ma, can we get some meatloaf! Hey Ma, the mealoaf, we want it now. Ma the meatloaf, F*#%!

[Dimension]

As a registered Republican in Trumbull I can assure you that Tim will not get my vote. Why would any candidate show a video of their acne years. Playing football and being class president may help with getting into a college, but after that no one cares. Smartboards are an educational TOOL which we already have in our classrooms. The teachers teach our children not the boards. We will never have the latest and greatest since technology is improved every six months. The only VISION I see is he is living a tax free life and does not contribute a dime to the Town of Trumbull. He lives with his mom and dad and if elected will get a free tax free car.

[Trumbull Res]

His lack of experience is showing already. I think you need people with consulting/operational management expertise, not financial acumen to identify operational savings. Somebody with real business experience would know that.$1,000,000 savings is a great sound bite but will he offer to resign when those lofty savings goals aren't realized? Doubtful. It'll be another "reluctantly we'll need to raise taxes to pay for my parents (both school administrators according to the article)". Curious he doesn't mention finding any savings in the school budget which is 4X the town budget

[What the heck]

High school football video? You have got to be sh$$ting me. Is he joking? Sure made me laugh.

[NOT A FAN]

I think it's pretty weird he wants to put his brand new legal career on hold.

Good luck, sonny.

[Vote Baldwin OUT]

As a registered Democrat, Ray Baldwin WILL NOT be getting my vote.
Mr. Baldwin and his team of imbeciles have cast this Town into such a negative light that it's residents are now blinded and unable to see a future anymore.(Just look at all of the "For Sale" signs around town.) Thankfully, we have a new candidate, an energetic individual, full of positive vision that will cast a glow on our state and make this Town outshine any other. My registered Democratic vote WILL be cast for Tim Herbst!
Tim Herbst and the rest of the Republican candidates have assured that they will not run a negative campaign. So all of you Baldwin supporters mocking this gentleman's age and residency, is only an expected example of how Mr. Baldwin can only try to win with mud-slinging.

[BlahBlahBlah]

If there are so many homes for sale in Trumbull maybe Tim HERBst should buy one...I find it hard to believe a lawyer can't afford to buy a $350,000 house.

[Trumbull Grandma]

It appears that the negativity has already started, how very sad. Why not focus on all the positive ideas that were expressed in Mr. Herbst's speech. This young man has the energy and optimism that Trumbull needs. I choose instead to focus on someone who is willing to put their "brand new legal career on hold" in order to dedicate himself to his hometown and the plan that he has put forth. How many of you are willing to give your time and energy to Trumbull - yet how quick are you to critize. Shame on you!

[Tgirl]

"team of imbeciles"

"no negative campaigning"

hmmm...sounds like double talk to me, VBO

[Dimension]

The number of homes on the market has to do with the recession and people getting mortgages that they never should have been approved for. As for mud slinging I can assure you that I am also not a fan of Ray, and my opinions expressed are my own. Even Hillary new before she ran for state senate that she needed to be tax paying resident! Unfortunately this Herbst character is not qualified to run a town.

Vote Baldwin OUT wrote:

As a registered Democrat, Ray Baldwin WILL NOT be getting my vote.
Mr. Baldwin and his team of imbeciles have cast this Town into such a negative light that it's residents are now blinded and unable to see a future anymore.(Just look at all of the "For Sale" signs around town.) Thankfully, we have a new candidate, an energetic individual, full of positive vision that will cast a glow on our state and make this Town outshine any other. My registered Democratic vote WILL be cast for Tim Herbst!
Tim Herbst and the rest of the Republican candidates have assured that they will not run a negative campaign. So all of you Baldwin supporters mocking this gentleman's age and residency, is only an expected example of how Mr. Baldwin can only try to win with mud-slinging.

[District 1 Resident]

I'm 40 and I don't know how I can afford to live here anymore, so I can understand a 28 year old not being able to afford a home here.

I just got hit with an increased sewer assessment, in addition to all the tax increases I've gotten over the Baldwin years. I'm about to start a family, but I'm not at all confident I can do it here. Herbst talks about full day kindergarten and I think he's dead on. I've looked into moving to other towns in the area and most offer it. Having to pay for a babysitter for half a day is a huge added expense I don't know if I can take on. I like this town, but it's quickly losing its edge as the expenses go up, and places like Fairfield and Shelton offer better services (full day kindergarten and a much better downtown) for the same or less expense.

[Trumbull Res]

Just so we're clear...any and all criticism of Ray Baldwin is valid but pointing out that Herbst is 28 and doesn't own a home is negative? Sorry Grandma, facts are facts. He is young and inexperienced. Perhaps a term or two on the Town Council would be a better place to start for him. Something with some fiscal responsibility might be a good start rather than asking for on the job training.

Not with my tax dollars.

[no way]

Notready4primetime wrote:

Can you really vote for a guy living in his parent's basement? I dont think so.

Agree

[Trumbullite]

Trumbull Res, you think he needs more experience in the local government before he runs? He's been on P&Z for 11 years. How many years was Ray in gov't before he was first selectman? Not 11.

[out of towner]

Is returning 3% of salary the same as taking a pay cut?

Smoke and mirrors.

That 3% will be back plus 3-5% in the following year.

[Trumbull Res]

Trumbullite

Read more carefully. I said he needs something with fiscal responsibility. Don't you think managing a $75,000,000 budget is slightly different than the part-time job of P&Z? C'mon. Also having a 17 year old on P&Z is just plain stupid-do you really want to count that as experience needed to run a town? I dont care who he is. He's never managed any budget at all and you want to give him the keys to town hall?