Dietch wants to bring ‘fresh eyes’ to town government

ORANGE — Jody Dietch, Democratic candidate for first selectman, said she knows the culture of the town after growing up here and raising two sons — and believes she’s just the right person to bring “fresh eyes” and “new ideas.”

Dietch, who serves as Democratic town chairman, said it’s reached a point where “we’ve flatlined in Orange.”

“I’ve been a volunteer my entire life. … I have a lot to offer the town of Orange,” Dietch said.

She is challenging seventerm incumbent Republican First Selectman James Zeoli in the Nov. 5 election.

Dietch, if elected, promised to put forth a strong effort for the town’s economy. While regularly honoring the town’s heritage as a farming community, for example, by buying her corn at a local farm, she said it’s time to realize Orange is not a farming community anymore.

“We have to be progressive about how we do business,” she said. “I think it’s time we bring new ideas, fresh eyes to the way the town operates.”

During her nomination acceptance speech, Dietch said: “We need to look at

Dietch wants to start a program in which community members check on seniors and possibly offer light help.

alternatives for the large, empty bigbox stores that haunt the east end of Route 1 where LA Fitness, Lowe’s and Sam’s used to be. … It is time to resurrect the Post Road.”

The three main prongs of her platform are to implement a volunteer program that helps seniors age in place if that is their wish; making the town more “green” than it already is; and sharing resources with other communities — and not just the usual Woodbridge and Bethany.

Dietch, who led the Racebrook School PTA for many years and served on the Board of Education, said she’s been considering a run for the top spot for several years, but each time when another potential candidate stepped forward, she supported them. No one was interested this year, so Dietch took the opportunity.

Dietch wants to start a program in which community members check on seniors and possibly offer light help. She noted meeting a man in his 80s on the campaign trail who’s taking care of his wife and didn’t even get a chance to put his snowblower away from last winter. She said basic help would have saved the man a lot of “stress.”

Dietch said Orange could be more environmentally friendly, perhaps by working with a solar company that could service homeowners; talking to the gas company about bringing in more natural gas lines; and installing electric vehicle charging stations on town property. She also wants to see more energyefficient town vehicles.

Dietch also is in favor of sharing more resources with Milford and West Haven, as well as Woodbridge and Bethany.

Among her recommended efficiencies is making Amity a K12 district to save on education costs. Dietch said under her plan there would be no changes to the way the system functions for students, but costs could be cut.

“It’s a winwin,” Dietch said.

The largest pool of voters in Orange are unaffiliated, with Democrats the next largest, followed by Republicans.

In her nomination acceptance, Dietch counted government transparency and stemming tax increases among her goals.

Dietch attended Keene State College, receiving a bachelor of arts degree with a focus on journalism and a minor in business. She has a master’s degree in public relations.

She currently serves as an executive director in the nonprofit sector and became a trained mediator through the Quinnipiac University Law School’s Center on Dispute Resolution.

Contributed photo Jody Dietch