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Sabotage

A peaceful transfer of power is one of the bedrocks of democracy. I’ve just returned from the first meeting of the North Haven Democratic Town Committee (DTC) since a January caucus turned over a good chunk of the existing membership, and that principle has not been upheld. Former DTC Chair Jennie Caldwell declined to run the meeting, as is custom in these circumstances. Ms. Caldwell and Vice-Chair Frederick Rodriguez were asked multiple times prior to the meeting about transferring access to bank accounts, passwords, and digital resources like election tools and social meeting accounts and refused. Several weeks before the meeting, the website and Facebook pages were taken down.

When the old guard was defeated at the caucus, there was a lot of hand-wringing about the loss of institutional knowledge, but by intentionally withholding or destroying existing resources, Caldwell and Rodriguez have essentially demolished DTC history. The Facebook page alone represented a vast and dynamic record of activity. Posts of old campaigns, electoral runs, and pictures of former members who’ve passed on. All gone now, thanks to a strategy of scorched earth by those who clearly never had the temperament to be in any kind of leadership role.

It seems the aim of former DTC leadership is to sabotage their own party. These resources, particularly DTC funds, were not theirs to take. They belong to the Democrats of North Haven. If this is not criminal, it’s at least baldly unethical. Republicans who’ve been eating our lunch for years are having a laugh at our expense right now. Any town Democrat who is sick of this kind of bologna would do well to join up with or donate to the new DTC to help us make our community better.

Tim Gabriele

North Haven

Tim Gabriele is the deputy secretary of the North Haven Democratic Town Committee.