The following text is the speech given by local Democrat Walter Spader at North Haven’s Democratic Town Committee’s July 19 meeting upon his acceptance of the party’s nomination to run for First Selectman against current town CEO and Republican Michael Freda in the 2011 municipal election:

“I thank the Nominating Committee for your nomination and the hard work you have done over these past few months.

Being on that Committee, I can say first hand that we spoke to a great number of qualified candidates for all positions on the ballot this November. The common theme is that there are many people willing to serve their fellow neighbors, but the culture of our political world – nationally, statewide and here at home – is turning people off from their desire to serve.

It was an important goal for the Committee to create a slate of candidates that would restore civility to the local debate.

The minority party in every town has an obligation to be the voice of dissent, the voice of those not heard and the voice for change when change is necessary. Unfortunately, the voice of the majority in many instances is not an articulate argument, but a jeering attack on those brave enough to speak.

We need to change the culture of public discourse. I’m not talking about silencing dissent, but in presenting actual answers to questions that are posed in public meetings – or in the case of the Board of Education – actually listening to concerns from the public.

Steve Fontana has held public office for a number of years. I’m sure this is a difficult day for him – as it will be the first time his name isn’t on a ballot in some position for almost two decades. I want to thank him for his service to our town. Jim Hogan is another individual that has given decades of his life to public service. They began serving in a time when public service was a route to serve the public, instead of an invitation for public ridicule, attacks and unseemly rumormongering.  Thank you Steve and Jim.

In running to join the Board of Selectmen, I want to usher in a new era for our Democratic Town Committee. I want to lead a campaign on behalf of all of those who are running on this ticket that represents the positives in what we all want for North Haven. A strong educational system; exemplary fire, police and paramedic services; town departments that are responsive to the public; and a vibrant economy — in short, what those who served before us have spent their time in office to try to bring us today.

It’s not us versus them — it’s not good versus bad. It’s how can we come together as a community to not tear people down, but build our society up.

To create a stable town government enticing to businesses to relocate here – not concerned that their projects will be met with partisan roadblocks, but assisted so that they can thrive within our border. We need to shepherd the grand list so that taxes can be stabilized without further loss of town services. We need to find the common threads that hold us together as citizens of this great town to weave a stronger community for our united future.

The rhetoric of today’s politics is sometimes a dark place. Certain partisans on both sides digress into personal attacks instead of taking the time to actually listen to their opponents’ points of view and understanding that we may disagree on principles and ideas without being disagreeable to each other.

I want to be a small part of the return to civility in society.

I’m not forming an individual campaign fundraising committee. I’m not asking for campaign contributions - I’m asking for your vote. I, for myself, will not authorize any scurrilous, grainy, dirty political mailings. I will and do authorize an honest debate. Are we better off today than we were two years ago? Were promises that were made kept? And how can we all – Democrats Republicans and the unaffiliated – come together to overcome the challenges and improve our town.

I’ll also say that I respect everyone on both parties who are being placed on their ballots this week and commend and thank them for their desire to serve the public. It’s not easy serving on any Board or Commission. There are hours away from home understanding a neighbor’s zoning issue, for example. Or wrestling with ways to keep our library doors open in tough economic times or continue the provision of services to those needy through the Community Services Commission. Solving problems that need solutions. I thank both parties’ candidates for coming forward with a desire to serve our great Town.  I encourage them to contribute to our mutual betterment rather than worry about when the attack dogs will be pointed toward them. That’s not the campaign I’m going to run.

I thanked Steve and Jim for their past service and I thank everyone on this ticket for their willingness to roll up their sleeves and get to work for the people of North Haven.

I’m proud to be a Democratic candidate with a capital “D”. Too often we shrink from identifying ourselves with that capital “D,” but it stands for our ideals. Today starts that new era for the DTC, we take no one who checked the “D” box on his or her voter registration card for granted. I want to lead a party you can be proud of.

And finally, I urge anyone that wants to work for the vibrant future of North Haven to join us and vote Democratic in November. Thank you.”

Content provided by Walter Spader.