By Jodi Hausen,Staff Writer

WILTON – Though it’s not a slam dunk, constituents in Tom Saviello’s hometown appear to support their state representative despite the legislator’s recent travails.

“I believe him when he says how it is,” Frank Donald said as he ordered his lunch at Bradley’s Pizza on Friday afternoon. “But he seems to be a magnet for controversy,” he added.

Saviello voluntarily stepped down this week from his chairmanship of the Natural Resources Committee asking the ethics commission to investigate whether his role there is a conflict of interest with his job as environmental manager for International Paper in Jay. Former Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Dawn Gallagher resigned in December amid allegations that she made a deal with Saviello to overlook environmental violations at the mill in exchange for lenient Androscoggin River environmental legislation – accusations Saviello denies.

Many in town said they believe the beleaguered legislator is honest and works with his constituents’ interests in mind.

“Everything I’ve ever heard about Tom Saviello is good,” Mike Wells of Jay said while ordering a sandwich at the Waterfront Bakery and Cafe. Wells grew up in Wilton and was ice fishing on Wilson Pond on Friday. “I think Tom’s a pretty honest guy, and he’s going to do the best thing he can for the people of the area. He’s not for the dollar but what’s best for the people.”

“He is for the people, there’s no doubt about that,” Sarah Tanguay echoed, emphasizing the word “for.”

Tanguay is the owner of the eatery, which has been operating for less than a year. She has worked with Saviello with The Wilton Group – an alliance of business owners and community members recently organized to “promote, enhance and preserve the unique character of Wilton,” according to their mission statement.

Tanguay said she believes the allegations against Saviello may be the result of his being a good listener.

“When you talk with him, he engages whether he agrees with you or not,” she said. “He will definitely listen, no matter what the outcome. You know you were heard when you talk with him. He’s a big-time people person, and he really tries to understand what’s going on in the community and pushes to get things done.”

Lisa Lindsay, out strolling Friday with her toddler, Toby, said she isn’t familiar with Saviello’s record, but she respects him. She said she appreciated that he volunteered to step down from the chairmanship.

“I respected that he changed to independent,” she said. “It seems that it was an honorable position to take, given that there were too many hang-ups between parties.”

“It’s a little too controversial for me,” Chester Pooley of New Vineyard said through the window of his parked car on Main Street on Friday. “There’s a lot of unresolved issues,” he added.

But William Donald of East Wilton said he wouldn’t hesitate to vote for Saviello again.

“I thought it was pretty flimsy when they implicated him,” he said. “So far, I’ve seen no evidence of it. And he’s probably met with a lot of people in many capacities. It’s part of his job. Until the evidence proves otherwise, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.”