According to Chris Peterson, author of influential, polarizing and conservative town blog “The North Haven Way,” the average blog lasts only two years. That his website recently surpassed three years is but one sign that it continues to be well-read, and, arguably, capable of altering North Haven’s political and cultural landscapes as much as any municipal board or commission. We recently sat down with Peterson to discuss his blog, particularly in light of the understatedly contentious June 21 superintendent of school’s public forum and the approach of election season 2011.

Q: How do you explain The North Haven Way’s consistent popularity and success?

A: Relevancy — there’s always an issue coming up which needs to be discussed. My blog really took off two years ago during municipal elections. And referendums always provide a spike in popularity. There are always things which pop up in North Haven that people want to talk about.

It’s pretty interesting — when I started out I did so without long-term goals. The fact that I can look back and three years have gone by pretty quickly, that’s amazing. I started the blog on May 13, 2008. I started it because I was angry about another blog that was going on in town, a blog which was left-leaning and no longer exists.

Q: In that municipal election two years ago, every candidate you supported won. Much of last month’s furor over the Superintendent’s special education proposal began on your blog, which undoubtedly helped prompt the emotionally charged atmosphere of June 21’s forum, where hours of impassioned public comment seemed to sway Board of Education votes against the Superintendent’s intentions. As such, what role does The North Haven Way play in a municipality with a town meeting form of government, where more power is placed in the overall public?

A: That [Superintendent] meeting was a fantastic example of what happens when people are informed, and my blog helps keep people informed. And it’s not just from me, but from all the comments, too. I had parents, students and special education teachers coming on my blog and commenting. For people who may not be knowledgeable about what’s going on, they can come to my blog and gain that knowledge on the situation and decide for themselves. My blog is a place to learn. You could see at that meeting the direct result of that.

It started out with me hoping that people would look at my blog for information before they attended public meetings. Now I get 1,800 hits a day and I know it’s a factor in elections. I truly feel that if you want to get elected in town, you need to embrace this blog.

Q: How do town politicians perceive your blog?

A: Depending upon which side of the isle you’re on, I’m loved, hated, or feared. I had one Board of Education member tell me, “When I go home after a board meeting, I check your blog to see if other people are talking about me.”

[First Selectman] Michael Freda has embraced it. He has kept up his commitment to do question and answer sessions on the site.

Q: How do you feel about one of the more common criticisms of The North Haven Way, the aggressive, sometimes-scornful tone with which you write about local people and events?

A: I’ve always been about that if you feel strongly about something, your words should match your emotions and convictions. As such, I’m not always going to be polite or nice, but I think people need that voice, that tone, because if we’re just nice about everything, then nothing ever gets done. Nothing ever gets moved ahead if everybody is getting too polite.

Q: What’s next for you and The North Haven Way?

A: I’m definitely keeping it as local as it is now for a little bit longer, but when the national political scene heats up soon, you’re going to see much more of a national focus. It started out as a Republican blog, and it’s going to go even harder right.

Right now, I’m smack dab in the middle of writing a book about the blog. At first, I thought writing a book was going to be much more boring, but now it’s become much more interesting. The book starts on election night two years ago, when Mike Freda won the First Selectman’s office.

Q: Speaking of Mike and municipal elections, North Haven is quickly approaching another election season. Do you have any early predictions or feelings?

A: Mike is going to walk. When it comes to measuring Mike’s success in his first term, if he simply stopped any major problems from happening, then Mike had a good first term. Sure, he’s short on major accomplishments, but he’s maintained the town well. North Haven is not in a worse place than when he started. His first term was all about cleaning up messes and making sure messes he inherited didn’t get bigger.

Three people are coming up for election on the Board of Education, and I’m not supporting any of them.