Primary Election Edition 2025

Experience Matters: Temple and Jensen
Continue to Lead Oxford Onward

When we first took office, Oxford was polarized to the point that nothing could be accomplished. Every week there was a vitriolic letter to the Editor of Voices which sought to attack rather than solve problems. Our approach has always been to be inclusive and proactive. In that manner we have been able to move the town forward though good times and bad times.
We are proud of the strides the town has made during our term in office. We have been able to navigate some rough waters but always kept an eye to the future and an ear to the past.
Arnie Jensen and I will be embarking on another campaign to seek your support as Republican Candidates for the Oxford Board of Selectmen. This election is very important because we are still in the process of recovering from the flood. As of yet, we have not received any payments from FEMA although we have submitted a 4.9 million dollar claim.
I believe that the experience that Arnie and I bring to the table could be critical.
The Town has issues concerning our development that could impact our quality of life for a long time. There seems to be a frenzy to encourage construction of apartments without regard to our commitment to the state for affordable housing. My opponent has stated that construction of apartments promotes economic development. He feels that there is a residual effect for our local economy as apartment dwellers will be eating at our local restaurants and shopping locally. The fact is, our restaurants are already doing a booming business but every child who resides in an apartment costs the town $22,000.00 to educate. The added traffic and policing problems detract from the serenity of our Oxford Community.
Arnie and I stand ready to finish the job we started. We need your support to continue our vision. Your vote in the Republican Primary on September 9th will ensure that we will continue to develop our town while staying true to the traditional Oxford values.

George Temple, First Selectman
Arnold “Arnie” Jensen, Selectman

Crashing Into a New Fee: What the Luff Plan Means for You

On August 25th Oxford Greens hosted a meet and greet with the three First Selectman candidates. Unfortunately, this event was not recorded but it was very informative.
It was particularly informative to hear Jeff Luff expand on how he is going to provide more money to the Fire Department, Police Department, Public Works and Park and Rec. Jeff said that he is going to accomplish this without raising taxes. Short of buying lotto tickets it is difficult to see where the additional money would come from.
Jeff has told many firemen that they ought to be paid for what they do. Our firemen volunteer to serve the town. Their notoriety is a sincere desire to help and protect their family , friends and neighbors. They have never looked for monetary gain.
Under a Luff Administration firemen would bill accident victims for their time in washing down or securing an accident scene. He stated that this would be a good way for the firemen to make money and the money would come from the insurance company of the accident victim.
First of all, our firemen are sent to the scene to ensure the safety of all motorists. Firemen respond to most motor vehicle accidents, but billing motorists still would not raise enough money to justify the additional employees required to keep track of the bills. Jeff very naively believes that we would send a bill to the insurance company of the victim.
This is not how it works. The insurance company only indemnifies for an insured loss. A bill would have to be sent to the individual, who then would be responsible for payment. If he or she does not get reimbursed by their insurance company, they are still on the hook for the bill.
Under the Luff Plan, not only will you suffer from your accident, you will be on the hook for a brand new expense which your tax dollars already fund.
Additionally, your tax money will be required to fund the additional employees required to administer this scheme.

Paid for by: Oxford Onward, Stephanie Miller, Treasurer              •            Approved by George Temple & Arnold Jensen

“Right Leaders, Rapid Recovery: Oxford’s Incredible One-Year Comeback!”

A year after the devastating flood of August 18, 2024, Oxfordâ€™s recovery stands as a testament to resilience. This transformation, which could have taken much longer, was made possible by the strong leadership of First Selectman Temple and Selectman Anie Jensen. Their years of experience and long-standing relationships with federal and state officials were crucial in securing the resources and support needed to rebuild.
With the guidance of George and Arnie and the capable team they put in place, Oxford has restored its
roads, bridges, and The Little River in just one year. Only one road remains closed — Loughlin Road —
due to the complexity and location of the damage.

Jackson Cove Beach Before

Longmeadow Before

Longmeadow After

Freeman Rd Before

Seth Den Rd. Bridge Before

Seth Den Rd. Bridge After

Oxford Onward - Stronger Than Ever!

Jackson Cove Beach After

Jackson Cove Rd Before

Freeman Rd After

Jackson Cove Boat Launch After

Jackson Cove Rd After

The Police Department Is Not a Political Playground

At the forum held at Oxford Greens on the 25th of August, Jeff Luff answered that if he is elected, he will appoint his running mate, Rob Boroski, as the First In Command at the Oxford Police Department. He also stated that the department was poorly disciplined and more like a clubhouse. The first obvious question is: where was Boroski’s leadership when all of this deterioration was allowed to happen?
This move is political cronyism at its worst. Rob is a member of a union, and he will remove himself and become a superior disciplinarian of his former brothers. If Rob is Second Selectman, how can he vote for his own promotion to Lieutenant? Ethics would dictate that he would have to recuse himself.
Forget, for a while, the optic of the town being run by the Police Chief and the Police Lieutenant. Do you really think he will drop the hammer in matters of discipline?
Last week, the police union agreed to settle the labor contract by agreeing to all town demands. This action was taken because they know that the town was not demanding anything more than what other towns demand. That is, mandatory call-ins and a limit on the number of straight hours worked. We actually had a Saturday when the entire department went to a Yankees game and left the Town uncovered. This kind of behavior will not be allowed under the terms of the new contract. In short, the contract was settled because the union knew that they couldn’t win.
I have urged the police to keep politics out of the department, but my pleas went unheeded. It is obvious that they are up to their necks in politics without any concerns of continued public support. The department needs to grow and function independent of a political campaign and treat all citizens with respect and courtesy, regardless of their political persuasion.

Protect Republican Values:
Say No to Democrat Influence in Our Primary!

It has become apparent that Jeff Luff and Robert Boroski have spent much time and effort converting Democrats into Republicans. They successfully converted almost 100 Democrats in time to vote at the Republican caucus. One of their big supporters is a former Democratic First Selectman. In fact, she has their political sign on her lawn.
Does this fact mean that a leopard will not change its spots? They bring the Democratic way of thinking to our Republican primary.
This fact has been reflected in the tax-and-spend attitude of Luff and Boroski. They want Oxford residents to pay for services that we are already taxed for (such as the fee to the Fire Department to clean accident scenes). What is next? Will we have to pay for our street plowing? They want to provide more money to the Police Department, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and the Senior Center, even though none of these departments have requested more money.
We have nothing against Democrats — they are also our friends and neighbors — but we are Republicans with Republican ideas. We will NOT compromise our Republican ethos.
Democrats and Republicans should stay in their own lane.

Oxford Republican Primary
Vote Temple & Jensen

Many Oxford residents, including myself, have experienced a significant increase in their real estate tax bills. The good news is that the assessment for motor vehicle tax has seen a significant decline. That aside, let me explain the principles used in computing your tax bill.
The starting point is the budget required to run the town. Of that budget, 75% is dedicated to the Board of Education. In essence, the town controls only 25% of the total budget. With this portion, the town must provide services ranging from Parks and Recreation, Animal Control and the dog pound, a library, the Senior Center, field maintenance, the police department, fire departments, Town Hall administration, a recycling center, and the Department of Public Works—everything from concerts to truck parts and a variety of other items in between. The budget is recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance, and is then passed on to a town meeting for approval.
Each taxpayer receives a tax bill based on their share of the total budget, including the Board of Education budget. A taxpayer’s share is calculated by multiplying the assessed value of their property by the mill rate.
Example: If a person has an assessed property value of $100,000.00 and the current mill rate is 20.01, the tax bill would be $2,001.00.
Now, back to the tax bump. Every five years, the town must hire an appraisal company for the revaluation of all real property. In the past five years, property values have soared in Oxford. That means your property investment has done very well, but it also means that the higher value increases your share of the tax burden. To compensate for this, we have reduced the mill rate from 25.81 to 20.01.

Senior Tax Breaks, Plan or Scam?

It is very common for people running for political office to suggest ways to relieve the tax burden. Usually, these schemes are aimed at seniors as a way to gain favor for their campaign. One common scheme is to defer all or part of the tax bill for people over 65 years of age. In order to defer a bill, a lien must be put on the property. When the house or property is sold, the deferred amount comes due. In the meantime, the deferred amount will be paid for by current taxpayers.
In light of the fact that we have to bear the expense incurred due to the flood, the difference would be shared by the rest of the tax-paying population. This could mean flood victims who experienced thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to their property. It could also mean that a single mom with three kids would have to pony up more tax money to cover the deferred taxes. All that glitters is not gold.
As far as the town’s twenty-five percent of the budget, we will continue to govern in a frugal manner, trying to keep taxes down. We do have a program to reduce senior taxes, but the program is income-driven and requires an application to be made to the tax assessor.
Despite the significant increase in property values and the resulting rise in the town’s real estate tax bills, Oxford still maintains one of the lowest tax rates in Connecticut. This means that even with the recent adjustments, the overall tax burden in Oxford remains relatively low compared to other communities, making it an attractive place for those seeking to keep their property taxes manageable. Arnie and I will continue to move Oxford Onward by stepping up our economic development efforts to attract a non-residential tax base, thereby reducing the overall tax burden.

OXFORD ONWARD!

Vote In Person
Sept 9
6am to 8pm
Quaker Farms School Gymnasium 30 Great Oak Road

Early Voting Begins:
Sept 2 and
Sept 4
8am to 8pm;
Sept 3, 5, 6 & 7 10am to 6pm
Oxford Town Hall Main Meeting Room 486 Oxford Road