The Sound's July 13 article "Bi-Partisan BOS Approval: PZC Alternate Named" indicated that the selection of an alternate to the Planning & Zoning Commission was a bipartisan agreement by the Board of Selectmen (BOS). The title of this piece not only defies the truth; it conflicts with the facts of the story.

How can it be considered bipartisan when the entire Democratic Town Committee was alerted and urged to attend the BOS's meeting because there would be fireworks?

At the same time, the Republican Town Committee (RTC) was held back and I was essentially told to "cool my heels" while Democrats First Selectman Unk DaRos and Second Selectman Fran Walsh were getting around to choosing their own candidate, who was sprung on the public at the last minute. Yet again. There was neither a meeting of the entire BOS nor even the elemental courtesy of an email to Republican Third Selectman John Opie concerning Marcia Paluzzi.

Is this the way bipartisan, open, and transparent administrations should work? Absolutely not!

As I stated that night, Marcie Paluzzi, the choice of the Democrats, is an excellent candidate. She is not, however, the best candidate. That person is Robin Sandler. A thorough comparison of their qualifications will make that evident to any unbiased observer.

An honest approach might have been to pick up the phone and explain to me why Robin Sandler wasn't even being considered as a candidate, but that would've been a confession that the administration has sabotaged every single nomination by the RTC in order to discredit it, forcing all future candidates-from any party-to grovel at the corner office for the administration's blessings.

The way this appointment was handled by the Democrats on the BOS is the latest example of why the DaRos administration is being labeled dishonest.

Ray Ingraham

Branford

Ray Ingraham is chair of the Branford Republican Town Committee.