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A Message to the People of Windham
From Jean deSmet
Willimantic, Connecticut
November 6, 2007
My dear friends and fellow Windham community members …
The “bottom line” is … today, Windham has risen
above partisanship and politics-as-usual. And, tonight … from
the Thread City … we begin to weave a new Windham …
together.
Tonight, the people of Windham have recognized …
- … that citizens’ ideas matter more than political parties.
- … that working together to create the community we want is the best way to improve our quality of life.
- … that a new kind of leadership is required for Windham’s future.
- … and that the era of simply talking about progress is over. …
- The era of delivering results begins tonight!
I
have a passion for the people of Windham, their ideas and the immense
possibilities that we collectively possess. These are the raw materials
that shape and create our community. Our people are our greatest
strength. Indeed, it is an honor to be entrusted with the stewardship
of these important resources … as your new … first
selectman!
First, I want to congratulate my opponents, Michael Paulhus and Harry
Carboni, for engaging their time and energy in the democratic process.
I also want to thank Michael for his service to Windham and the
contributions that he’s made to this community. I look forward to
working with him for a smooth transition in the coming days.
This election is about the future of Windham. We are going to listen to what the community wants. We are going to involve those not yet engaged. We are going to build
on our community’s strengths and on what’s working. And
… you better believe it … this Town is going to be a
proactive participant with the community in working on common goals.
As many of you know, my current involvement in Windham has been focused
on coordinating the 3rd Thursday Streetfest each month, along with
hundreds of volunteers. At 3rd Thursday, we see Windham’s best
assets, our best diversity, and our best talents shine.
Each month, 3rd Thursday connects people.
It connects neighbors to neighbors … Windham to the broader
region … performers to the public … residents to local
businesses and nonprofits … and the political right and the
political left with the full spectrum of political views. As first
selectman, I will connect people and ideas every day … so that
our community thrives and flourishes. Together, as citizens, we will
weave a new Windham.
When I have economic development meetings with potential investors and
developers, I’ll share with them who’s here, what’s
here and what’s going on here. I’ll tell them about the
thriving creative community … the beautiful natural environment
… the small businesses … the university and college
talent … and the engaged citizens who produce festivals and
celebrations. These are the “threads” with which
we’ll weave a new Windham:
- With our social threads
… Everyone knows Windham is diverse. From the beginning of the
mills, this has been true. Diversity can be a threat in which
differences divide us. Or it can be a strength from which we discover
new ideas, new food, new businesses and new music. Either way,
it’s a choice we all need to make. … I choose to see our
diversity as a cornerstone to our future success. The more open and
welcoming we are, the richer this community becomes.
- We will weave a new Windham with our economic threads
… Local inventiveness and innovation matter for revitalizing
downtown. We will support our existing local businesses and develop
new, entrepreneurial startups so that their successes become part of
Windham’s overall, sustainable growth. We will strive to balance
historic preservation of the buildings and places that make us unique
… with new developments that emerge in our changing community.
- We will weave a new Windham with our education threads
… Children are going to be a priority in this community. First
of all, we need to show our youth that they are important to us and
that they matter. Within my first 100 days, I will be holding a Windham
Youth Dialogue to ask our young people what matters to them, what
they’d like to see happening in our community, and how we can
support them. We will also be working to capitalize on the talents,
knowledge and research of the students, faculty and staff at Eastern
Connecticut State University and Quinebaug Valley Community College.
And we’ll work collaboratively to provide lifelong learning
opportunities to people of all ages and all backgrounds who want to
further develop themselves.
- We will weave a new Windham with our political threads
… We will move from the current culture of inaction and
indifference … to a new culture of openness, collaboration and
independence. This election has demonstrated that our common interests
are more important than political affiliations.
- We will weave a new Windham with our sustainable threads
… Windham is home to the Institute for Sustainable Energy
… yet few of us know of their existence. This organization
should be as significant to our town’s prosperity as the mills
once were. And, like the mills did, the Institute for Sustainable
Energy can connect Windham to the world. I will invite them help us
make Windham/Willimantic a greener, more-sustainable community –
including in the Town buildings, local businesses, homes and
apartments, new developments and our surrounding environment. In
addition, the Windham area’s natural amenities are some of our
greatest assets. We will do everything we can to showcase these places
– from the Willimantic River and local lakes … to our
regional parks and trails and locally owned farms.
- And, finally, we will weave a new Windham with our creative threads
… For it is from our imagination, creative thinking and new
ideas that all aspects of our community are formed. Creativity is at
the heart of our community. We have a thriving arts and cultural scene
and we will build on these elements even more. The arts are not just a
“feel-good, nice-to-have” amenity. They contribute jobs and
revenue to this community … along with enjoyment and
entertainment. And creativity is not just about the arts. Creativity is
what makes us human. It’s about what matters most to us. I want
people to share and express this part of themselves. For when we create
our community together, we will indeed get the community we want and
that we deserve.
To begin weaving a new Windham, I invite you to share your ideas with us. You can send me your ideas by email at … jean@WindhamIdeas.org.
In addition, I will immediately be forming an advisory board and
transition team. We will bring together community voices and ideas for
collectively weaving Windham’s new future.
In addition, after taking office on November 20 … and through
the end of the year, I will be meeting with Town department heads as
part of the transition process. In the new year, we’ll begin to
implement our community agenda for weaving a new Windham.
Finally, I want to thank the people of Windham – the voters who
elected me. I am grateful for the faith that you have shown in my
leadership and my vision.
I want to thank my fellow candidates on the Bottom Line slate. Thank
you for your wisdom to see a bigger picture … for your courage
in putting partisanship aside … and for your willingness to work
together.
I look forward to delivering results, in collaboration with you the
community of Windham. Together, let’s imagine what might be
…. And thank you again!
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Paid for by
Jean deSmet for First Selectman,
Thomas McNally, Treasurer
Please send campaign contributions to:
Jean deSmet for First Selectman
Thomas McNally, Treasurer
PO Box 161, Windham, CT 06280
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