Haas Prepares for Life as Lone Democrat

This year's election put Third Ward Councilman Dave Haas in a unique position. He will be the most powerful Democrat in town but potentially the least powerful member of the Town Council.

The defeat of Fourth Ward Democratic Councilman Tom Bigosinski and Haas' position as the sole Democrat to win will position Haas for the next two years as the only Democrat on the Town Council. In his coming position as a minority of one Haas does not expect many changes in his role on the Council.

"I wouldn't anticipate any real changes in the way the Council operates," he said. "I would assume my colleagues on the Council will continue to treat me with respect and include me in things."

Haas plans to meet with Mayor Andy Skibitsky in the coming weeks to discuss his role on the Council for the coming year and on how the Council will work with Haas being the sole Democrat. Haas said he plans to continue to work in a bipartisan manner and hopes that his colleagues do the same.

"If they act in a bipartisan manner, they can expect that from me," Haas said. "I'm cautiously optimistic."

Haas has always had one Democratic colleague during his five years in office. When he was appointed to succeed former Councilman Kevin Walsh in 2003 he was part of the only Democratic majority in town history. When he returned to office after unseating Republican incumbent Darielle Walsh in 2005 he had Bigosinski to keep him company.

With Bigosinski's departure Haas will lose one important power at the minority's disposal, a power the duo rarely used. As a pair, the two could force a vote on any issue they wanted with the ability to motion and second a proposal. Going forward, Haas will need at least one Republican to agree to let his ideas receive a full vote.

The first thing Haas would like to figure out is his committee assignments for the coming year, a decision which will be made by Skibitsky. Each Council member sits on two committees, holding a leadership position on one. Haas has spent the last two years as vice chairman of the finance policy committee and as a member of the public works committee.

With the finance committee chairmanship opening up with the retirement of Councilman Sal Caruana, Haas harbors no illusions that the mayor will promote him to head the budget writing panel. The finance chairmanship is considered the most powerful on the Council.

"I hope I am returning to finance next year," Haas said. "I do not anticipate Andy appointing me as chairman because I was vice chairman."

In addition to the finance committee, Haas is hoping for a seat on the public safety, transportation and parking committee, where he served earlier in his term. He noted that he finds safety issues to be at the center of many of the concerns in the third ward and he hopes to be able to address them from the committee. Bigosinski currently serves as a member of the committee.

Haas noted that his policy goals will be partially determined by his committee assignments. He has listed a variety of goals in the areas of finance, traffic safety and the environment as topping his list for his second term.

One of his key issues will continue to be to push for an energy audit and the creation of an environmental commission, issues he has been pushing for several years. He noted that he can see the town going to the forefront of environmental issues, along with using an energy audit to save money in the future.

In terms of finance, Haas reiterated a key goal he and Bigosinski have been pushing for years, having part time legal contracts put out to bid and eliminating pensions for part time attorneys serving the town. Both legal issues, along with the environmental commission, have been regularly opposed by Republicans on the Council.

Haas did say that he believes the budget issues to be at the top of the agenda going forward for him and others in government.

"Nothing can be done without getting out fiscal house in order," he said.

Haas, who holds a doctorate in electrical engineering and is a math professor, noted he would like to see more numbers used in the decision making process on issues ranging from traffic safety to the budget.

"I'd like to see us more to where our decisions are more data driven," he said.

While Haas, whose status as the lone Democrat makes him the titular head of town Democratic Party, is looking forward to continuing to serve his ward, he did say he will miss having Bigosinski serving on the Council.

"It was nice to have someone I could discuss issues with on the Council who I could inherently trust to not use anything I said in a political manner," he said.