Frank Washabaugh

Editor

Frank is an independent investigative journalist and the technical architect behind Sherman CT News. Frustrated by the lack of transparency in local government and the echo chamber of traditional municipal reporting, Frank built this platform from the ground up to serve as a dedicated watchdog for the taxpayers of Sherman, Connecticut.

Armed with a deep understanding of the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), financial data analysis, and legally registered aerial drone operations, Frank goes where press releases and sanitized town columns won't. His reporting focuses on municipal expenditures, bureaucratic overreach, and holding elected officials accountable to the residents they serve.

Beyond his analytical expertise, Frank brings a distinctly cinematic and multimedia lens to local news. Drawing on his background as a professional photographer, cinematographer, and former professional musician, he produces high-impact documentary videos and visual evidence that force the administration to confront the reality of their decisions. Whether he is tracking down orphaned construction logs for a $42.8 million mega-bond, exposing millions in hidden town surpluses, or fighting back against the weaponization of local law enforcement, Frank’s philosophy is simple:

"Receipts over rhetoric."

When he isn't analyzing municipal budgets, editing investigative footage, or flying drones to document infrastructure decay, Frank is writing code and optimizing the custom engine that powers Sherman CT News, ensuring the truth remains fast, free, and accessible to every neighbor in town.

Latest from Frank

The Illusion of Stewardship: Bankruptcies, Budgets, and Sherman’s $42.8M Trap

Saturday, March 14, 2026

A local administration manufactured a public safety panic over a drone. The real threat, however, lies in the town ledgers—where years of deferred maintenance and a hidden $2.3 million surplus quietly laid the groundwork for a generational tax burden.

Demolition by Negligence: The Banality of Sherman’s $42.8M Crisis

Thursday, March 12, 2026

In municipal politics, we often mistake incompetence for malice. The true scandal behind the Sherman School bond is not that the administration engineered a crisis, but that they used a culture of fear to mask their complete oblivion to it.

The 2015 Question: The Leadership Failure Behind the $42.8M School Bond

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

A $42.8 million crisis is not an act of God; it is cultivated over time. As the town debates the staggering cost of the Sherman School, an uncomfortable question must be asked of the First Selectman's office.

The Sherman Caste System: The Quiet Weaponization of the Generational Divide

Sunday, March 8, 2026

The American Dream promises that a property deed brings political enfranchisement. But in Sherman, the administration has mastered a different civic contract: pitting the town against itself to protect the status quo.

A Tale of Two Snowstorms: Transparency, Steel, and Sherman’s Missing Construction Logs

Friday, March 6, 2026

First Selectman Don Lowe uses winter weather to boast of construction progress to the press while simultaneously citing it as a legal defense to withhold public records from the state.

The Ultimate Wealth Filter: The Reality of Buying Real Estate in Sherman, Connecticut

Friday, March 6, 2026

It boasts pristine woods, no commercial sprawl, and a deeply guarded culture. Buyers venturing into Sherman are in for a bureaucratic shock, high energy costs, and an unparalleled retreat into traditional New England.

Taxpayers Are Not ATMs: Why a $42.8 Million Community Investment Demands Respect

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Sherman taxpayers understand the value of a good school, whether we have children enrolled or not. We are all on the same side. But when we ask to see the ledgers for a historic $42.8 million bill, the administration treats us like outsiders whose only job is to write the check.

The "March Wall": Why Late Winter in New England is the Hardest Season

Monday, March 2, 2026

As February bleeds into March, New Englanders hit what psychologists call the "March Wall." Here is the science behind the late-winter slump and how to survive the hardest season without losing your mind.

Neglected Assets: Why is Sherman’s Premier Walking Track Still Buried?

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Weeks after the last major snowstorm, the community walking track remains under packed snow and ice. The administration's refusal to prioritize a simple work order for the DPW reveals a glaring pattern of deferred maintenance.

Demolition by Neglect: The Engineered Collapse of the Sherman School

Friday, February 27, 2026

Imagine entrusting your home to a caretaker, only for them to return the maintenance checks and let the house rot. That is exactly how Town Hall engineered the $42.8 million school crisis.

A New Chapter for Sherman’s Catholic Community: The Completion of Holy Trinity Chapel

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

After years of planning, demolition, and construction, the newly rebuilt Holy Trinity Chapel has officially opened its doors, securing the future of the Catholic community in Sherman.

The Calm Before the 20-Inch Storm: In Praise of Sherman’s Road Crews

Monday, February 23, 2026

Sherman braces for a historic 15 to 20 inches of snow overnight. As the town hunkers down, we look at the quiet, decentralized competence of the DPW crews working to keep our roads safe.