Joe Verrengia: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing by Tom Evers

Joe Verrengia: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

By Tom Evers

May 21, 2007

Leave it to your neighborhood friendly West Hartford police officer, Joseph Verrengia, who spent most of his political career seeking a platform to promote truth, justice, and the American way to pull a Benedict Arnold on Thursday - switching as an elected official on behalf of the West Hartford Republican Party to the Democratic Party in one quick swoop of defection.

Thinking back on all of the phony rhetoric that Verrengia spouted to get elected (which led to this author's endorsement of him at the time he ran) and the way in which he swindled his constituents to gain their trust - calling to reduce taxes on overburdened West Hartford populace in what he referred to as "an overtaxed community" and all of the other campaign nonsense he spewed to gain the trust of West Hartford GOP's leadership when they went to form their ticket - is more than astounding.

Although to keep this essay honest, the West Hartford Republican Party has seen its third defection in as many years which is obviously an indication that there is clearly something wrong with the candidate selection process. The idea that an interviewed and selected party candidate would have nothing in their veins besides their party's cool-aid is beyond conception. At the heart of all of this lies an intentional scheme to defraud West Hartford's citizens - particularly registered members of the local GOP - it's a fact that one doesn't simply switch parties over a difference with the party leadership on direction or policy - particularly when you run and are expected to be a proponent of certain ideas and principles that propelled you to representative government on behalf of your party's leadership and its voting constituency.

Verrengia claims that he's tired of being seen as partisan. Most would agree that if that is the case than he's probably chosen the wrong line of work. But I guess he's doing his best to bring everyone together under a one-party system where everyone casts one vote and ends up in full agreement. Now that's democracy in action! We have a two party system for a reason, Joe. So that ideas can be represented by both sides. Sorry if its too inconvenient for you to have to play the minority adult role.

Verrengia further lost credibility when he tried to put the blame for switching parties at the feet of local GOP leadership - as if, he claimed, that suddenly he was out of step with the direction and stance of the local leadership. . What a bunch of phony baloney! A nice canned excuse that simply just doesn't jive with the facts!

I think even any neutral person looking back at Verrengia's voting pattern will see that he's been out of step with Republicans for most of his political career - since his election on their behalf. Isn't it true Joe, that you've sided with the Democrats on nearly every key issue such as Blue Back Square, and most recently you're casting of multiple votes in support of raising taxes on the West Hartford population - including supporting last month's tax hike of 6.6% on all West Harford property owners?

C'mon Joe, who is the one who's really out of step?

And besides, Joe, you are the one that publicly argued (in the Courant) against allowing West Hartford Taxpayers the right to bring a referendum forward to decide their own fate on taxes.

But you see, you didn't just disagree and do the noble thing which would have been to resign your Republican post in light of your "new found" philosophical differences with acting and voting Republican, and run in the fall as a Democrat. No, instead you decided to cheat taxpayers and local Republicans who supported and contributed to your campaign by taking the seat, clinging to power, and moving over to the other side of the chamber The real question someone should be asking, including those at the Hartford Courant, is how long have you been planning this defection?

For the record, what Joe Verrengia wants you to believe is that he is some thoughtful artificer of right and wrong, and he made this choice based on a new found conscious, responsibility, and love for high taxes. Can't we just all get along? But let's face it, what it amounts to is that Joe Verrengia is and has been - nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Joe Verrengia is just an opportunist seeking the easy road, a guy who is unwilling to fight for any cause but his own, or make the tough choices in support of West Hartford taxpayers. It's so much easier to nod like a bobble-head doll at the majority. I mean, why get into it? Why be contrary? Even though it might be lazy to not spend the time to really address issues like run away spending or create economic plans imposing fiscal responsibility when you can just raise taxes - just think how expedient it is. And just think about how much faster those Council sessions will go - wow. These are the kind of spineless politicians we turn out these days - simply unbelievable!

And while the West Hartford political merry-go-round spins, West Hartford taxpayers get hosed. No one is willing to do the hard work as the mil rate and taxes continue to climb at record levels - forcing younger residents, including families, to rethink whether the value received is worth to cost.

As a side note, it will be interesting to see who will get bumped from the Democratic side next election. What deal have the Democrats made to bump one of their own to reward Verrengia's for his last year and a half of GOP treachery? Who becomes the patsy on the other side of the chamber? Who's giving up their seat for Joe?

Now we look to West Hartford's GOP chief - Carl Donatelli, who will try and put Humpty-Dumpty back together again.

Look for the sign:

Wanted: GOP Candidate to run for West Hartford office. Must have a strong sense of integrity. Must be honest, principled, intelligent, loyal, and must understand the principles of Adam Smith style economics, and be willing to act and vote like a Republican throughout his or her tenure; Must be willing to stand alone on principle against the majority particularly, when they are in lockstep with sending the town into economic doom. Must not collaborate simply to look pretty in the press. Above all else, must be true to his or her word to help set a new trend to West Harford GOP politics.