The Bulletin recently featured a front page article concerning the Libertarian Party of Connecticuts plan to mount a full-scale campaign to take Norwich City Hall in the next election. Considering that Libertarian candidates rarely poll more than 1 percent of the vote, it may have been a slow news day. But the story was interesting because it revealed a new strategy for Libertarians, who usually grasp for more unattainable brass rings, like the 2nd Congressional District or Libertarian-leaning Rep. Ron Pauls, R-Texas, repeated unsuccessful forays into presidential politics. Before laughing off a Libertarian city council, Norwich voters should weigh how well Democrats and Republicans have handled the citys affairs the past 40 years, then consider how a Libertarian administration might differ. Libertarians are great critics of the status quo, but can they actually govern? Norwich might just be the ideal test tube experiment. As Libertarians advocate small, efficient government, you might expect an administration that would reign in city spending, lower the burgeoning property tax rate and get tax-foreclosed properties back in private hands. While it would be unwise to completely cut the state and federal grant umbilical cord, there would be less faith in Hartford and more in the private sector. Could that revive a troubled town? Consider what happened in downtown Putnam when a small measure of it was applied. Putnams downtown enjoyed a brief revival as an antiques Mecca, but it was sliding back into oblivion as the Internet and other factors shuttered one shop after another. Then, the owners of two restaurants made what seemed to some to be an outrageous request: Lease them, for a nominal fee, the public parking spaces in front of their establishments so they could build patios (at their expense) for outdoor seating. Fortunately, the towns Democrat administration agreed to this reverse eminent domain arrangement. Now on warm Friday and Saturday nights, the streets are crowded with well-behaved people, dining al fresco before going to one of two downtown theaters or patronizing several well-managed pubs. There are now four street-patio restaurants, and dilapidated nearby buildings are being overhauled by developers who want to be part of the action. Why cant that happen in downtown Norwich, an admirable collection of architectural gems surrounded by a population that would respond to an entertainment and arts center? A business-friendly Libertarian administration might find a way where Democrats and Republicans have struggled. Martin Fey, a resident of Putnam, can be reached at uniboardcorp@msn.com.

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Fey's View from the Right: Libertarians might serve Norwich better