Karl was also interviewed for a cover story on the real people behind the rising tide of unemployment here in Connecticut in last week's edition of the New Haven Advocate.

The trouble really began early this summer when Town voters rejected a proposed budget for fiscal year 2009 – 2010. The Town Council and school board had presented a combined package for a June 16 referendum, and while the municipal portion passed, the education budget went down to defeat.

Karl found himself out of work on July 1 when his Engineer II position was cut as part of a second package that was being readied for another town referendum. When voters cast their ballots on July 28, they again approved Town side expenditures, which represented a "zero percent" increase over the previous fiscal budget.

But the Board of Education portion failed a second time, triggering school officials to propose a third package with deep cuts that voters finally approved on August 25. Four workers' jobs were eliminated among the many public education services slashed in Watertown's final budget.

Karl continues to search for a new job in the face of the "jobless recovery" he finds himself in. Meanwhile, with a budget in place, his former colleagues in Chapter I63 are scrambling to tackle new infrastructure improvement projects before winter weather arrives.

But lingering questions remain for Watertown's elected officials, considering the decision by the Board of Education to fill two new director-level positions before a budget was finally ratified. The decision raised a number of concerns among local residents, many of which were aired at a special meeting on the school board's second proposed package the day before Karl received his pink slip.

The lesson Union members can take away from Karl's experience is that local elections matter. The decisions elected officials make about municipal and school budgets have consequences for the delivery of public services -- and for the people that deliver them.

And we all have the opportunity to cast our vote for mayors, selectmen, school board members, and a wide variety of local offices across the state next month. Even if you don't live in a community where our Legislative Action Committee is recommending any endorsements, be sure to get to your local polling place on Tuesday, November 3 and support the candidates who are committed to quality public services.