Rae Johnson 2009

    As residents of Connecticut, we are constantly being told that we must make sacrifices so that we might see better days tomorrow.  To sacrifice means to surrender something of value.  That shouldn't mean that the average citizen should give up educational programs for their children, health care for their families, food for their tables, or heat for their homes.  Nor should businesses be forced to close because they cannot afford to pay or provide benefits for their employees.

     As civil servants, we cannot continue to live by the 'Do as I say, not as I do' philosophy.  We must begin to find ways to reduce the need for our citizens to sacrifice by looking first to ourselves.  As mayor, my first 'sacrifice' would be to reduce my salary by $35,000.00 per year.  I would put that surplus right back into the town's budget to fund other programs more important than my own comfort.  That, to me, is a worthy sacrifice.