Transcript Preservation of Open Space and North Branford’s 2008 Local Elections Abigail Rose Walston EVE 539 December 3, 2008

Preservation of Open Space
and North Branford’s
2008 Local Elections
Abigail Rose Walston
EVE 539
December 3, 2008
The Value of Open Space
 Preserves Natural Resources
 Wildlife
 Wetlands
 Soil
 Water
 Provides Local Food
 Contributes to Aesthetic Beauty of
the Town
Current Open Space in North
Branford
 Forests
 Wetlands
 Agricultural Lands
 Lands Owned by Regional Water
Authority
History of Open Space
Preservation
 Rural character of the town
 Support of town council and
townspeople
 Value of open space and farmland
reflected in Plan of Conservation
and Development
Current and Future Open
Space in North Branford
CGS § 12-107
 a.k.a. Public Act 490
 1963
 Allows land to be designated as
“Open Space”
 Provides tax incentives to preserve
open land, forest, farmland
 Assesses land based on current use
rather than market value
US House of Representatives
3rd District of CT
 D- Rosa DeLauro
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Smart Growth
Preserve Open Space
Protect Farmlands
Protect National Parks and
Forests
 Stewart B. McKinney
Wildlife Refuge
 R- Boaz ItzHaky
 “Talk to your local
officials”
State Senate 12th District
D- Edward Meyer
 Senate Chair of Environment
Committee
 Smart Growth
 Preserve Open Space
 Environmental Leadership
Award from the Watershed
Partnership
 Co-sponsor of “Community
Investment Act”  $510,650
grant for Guilford/Killingworth
 Support Local Farmers
R- Ryan Suerth
 Education, Economy,
and “3 Strikes” law are
priorities
 Wants to make our
towns more affordable
to live in and improve
quality of life and safety
State Representative
86th District
 R- Vincent Candelora
 Co-chair to Regional Efficiency Sub-group
of the Smart Growth Task Force
 From a farming family in NB
 “I have always supported appropriate land
preservation” for open space and
agricultural lands
 Supports clean-up and use of brownfields
rather than developing open space
The Winners
Open Space and Party Lines?
 Democrats DeLauro and Meyer
favor preservation of Open Space
 Republicans ItzHaky and Suerth
find other issues to be more
important
 Republican Candelora also favors
and works to preserve Open Space
NB Republicans and Open
Space
 Strong Agricultural Ties in NB
 R- Town Council Members tend to
support Open Space, Agricultural
Lands and “Preserving the Rural
Character” of NB
 Conservation Commission and
Agricultural Commission mostly
Republican
Influence on People’s Votes?
 DeLauro’s Win
 Landslide
 Many issues
 Meyer’s Win
 Clearly the candidate for the environment
 Candelora’s Win
 Unopposed… townspeople are generally
happy
Bibliography
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“2008 Connecticut Voter’s Guide- Edward Meyer and Ryan Suerth.” Hartford
Courant. 11 November 2008. http://courant.com/news/politics/hcvoteguide2008-searchstory,0,2888593.htm/story
“Chapter 203 * Property Tax Assessment.” Connecticut General Assembly. 6
October 2008. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/pub/Chap203.htm#Sec12-107e.htm
“Environment and Open Space.” Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. 15 May 2008.
14 November 2008. http://delauro.house.gov/release.cfm?id=1239
“Meyer Announces $510,560 in Open Space Grants for Guilford and
Killingworth.” Press Release from State Senator Edward Meyer. 11 October
2007. 14 November 2008. http://senatedems.ct.gov/pr/meyer-071012.html
“Photo Log.” Connecticut State Senator Edward Meyer. 2 December 2008.
http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/sn/gal-sn/meyer-gal/Meyer-photo-080901.html
“Public Act 490- The Basics.” Connecticut Department of Agriculture. 6
October 2008. http://www.ct.gov/doag/cwp/view.asp?a=1366&q=259834
Image Sources
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http://www.boforcongress.com
http://delauro.house.gov/
http://www.housegop.ct.gov/images/gallery2008/candelorav/candeloragallery200
8.asp
http://www.housegop.ct.gov/members/Candelora.asp
http://www.sdvlaw.com/ryan.html
http://senatedems.ct.gov/Meyer.htm
http://www.townofnorthbranfordct.com
Comments or
Questions?