WILTON - Last month, the Republican Town Committee [RTC] unveiled a new Web site, catching up to the town's Democrats, who launched their site in 2000.

The sites underscore a difference in philosophy between the two parties in town. Wilton Republicans intend to be fiercely local. With the exception of a few news items at the state level, the site focuses on town government information and party announcements. An article this month spotlights candidates for the upcoming town elections.

Wilton Democrats concentrate more on statewide and national issues. Their site prominently announces a luncheon for Sen. Chris Dodd's presidential campaign and keeps a running death toll for U.S. soldiers in Iraq, with separate pages and links for local information.

Al Alper, who led the RTC's Web site committee, said in an interview the Democrat's broader focus does a "tremendous disservice" to the town.

"If I was on the national Democratic party, they'd be doing exactly what I want them to do," Alper said, "but if I was on the local Democratic party I'd be turning red at the meetings because where are we supporting our town?"

Selectman Ted Hoffstatter, former chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, said in an interview there's "definitely a connection between local, state and national issues."

"We don't live on an island in Wilton," he said, "so to say we don't have to discuss issues on a national scale is a huge error on the RTC's part."

As an example, Hoffstatter said the Iraq war impacts local government financially.

"If we spend $250 million a day in Iraq, that's also money that's not going to the states, whether it's transportation, education or anything else."

Alper said he knows many Democrats who do feel passionately about local issues, but he said it's not reflected in the party's "public face," a concept the Republicans are trying to sculpt with their own Web site. He points out the RTC is not "zealously religious" or "hyper pro-life."

"We're looking to get our name and voice out there because we believe, as a party, that all too often we are defined by the media and by our opposition, and we have not been defining ourselves," Alper said

Feedback on the Republican site has been positive so far, Alper said, though some have asked for more information on national issues.

"Our response is, there are plenty of national Web sites for that," Alper said, adding that the resource page on the site links to Republican sites at the state and national level.

"We've fallen into being a local party focused on local issues with an ear and eye towards the national platform," he said, "and I think the reverse is true on the other side of the aisle." In the future, Alper wants to start a blog covering local issues. "The Huffington Post had 10 pages of the Voices in Conflict Issue," he said, referring to the banned Wilton High School play on the Iraq war, "so I do believe it will be a lively blog."

Hoffstatter wants to focus on broader issues during his first term on the board of selectmen, including transportation and the ease of commute for Wiltonians.

The parties do agree occasionally. A commission recently established to conserve energy in town, for example, was championed by both parties as way of reducing humans' carbon footprint.

I'm encouraged by Republicans here in Wilton," Hoffstatter said. "It seems like here they are more amenable to take climate change more seriously. I think that's a good thing."