May 24, 2005
Seeing Eye-to-Eye
By Gwenne Lally

As Killingworth grows we all feel the pressure of development. Our larger population is making new and often costly demands on our community. The way we choose to respond to those demands will directly affect every one of us.

This has sometimes transformed what began as considered, rational disagreement into heated controversy. It is particularly unfortunate that emotionally charged rhetoric clouded a number of recent discussions about how we as a town can best accommodate the needs of our children — an issue everyone agrees is important.

We may not all hold the same views, but sharing them in civil, tolerant discourse is the only way we will be able to shape our collective future. To further that goal, the Killingworth Democratic Town Committee has developed a program we call Eye-to-Eye.

Eye-to-Eye is a series of meetings held at residents’ homes and attended by their friends and neighbors — Democrats, Republicans or independents — where KDTC representatives and Democratic candidates for local office can hear the diverse opinions and individual concerns of a wide variety of townspeople.

Each Eye-to-Eye is intended to be an informal, personal forum where residents can explore important issues facing Killingworth and have a frank conversation about the kind of town they want to live in. As such, every meeting is expected to be different, reflecting the particular concerns and perspectives of the individuals who attend. The first meeting, held on May 7 th turned out to be essentially about education.

The KDTC is working for a town government that is open, honest, capable, accountable, and most of all, responsive. The more we can learn about the many different positions Killingworth residents take on a broad range of issues, the better we can serve you.

We believe the time for a friendly conversation is long overdue. Eye-to-Eye is our way of getting it started. Everyone in Killingworth is urged to participate, regardless of party affiliation. If you would like to host an Eye-to-Eye or inquire about the next scheduled meeting, please contact us at KillingworthDems@hotmail.com or call Mike Sanders, Chair.

(To learn more about the Killingworth Democratic Town Committee, visit http://www.killingworth.dems.info or join us at out next meeting at the Library on Sunday, June 5, at 7 p.m. )

Gwenne Lally is Vice Chair of the Fields Study Committee, Vice Chair of the Conservation Commission and Recording Secretary of the KDTC. She also served as Secretary of the Town Office Building Study Committee.

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