To the Editor:www.facebook.com/armelforbofIf you have any questions about Armel, you can reach him via e-mail at armelforbof@gmail.com or visit his Facebook page,

This is the endorsement of a concerned citizen who would like to see qualified leadership on the Newtown Board of Finance. Armel Romeo Kouassi is a candidate for the Newtown Board of Finance. Armel is a senior banker with 15 years of global financial management experience. He is a director at State Street Corporation, the second largest custody bank in the world, and earned a Master of Finance from European School of Management in Paris and a MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Armel is a caring family man and a father of three young children. He is a dedicated volunteer in our community. Armel and I share the same love for Newtown and are genuinely concerned about the town's financial health because we care about its long-term viability. We share the same desire to maintain one of the best school systems in Connecticut and to create opportunities for growth while maintaining Newtown's unique character. We also share the view that we need to maintain Newtown as a desirable place to live, both for existing residents and new residents, and that one of the most important things we can do as a town is to manage our finances in a balanced and responsible manner.

Despite Connecticut's financial challenges, I am convinced that Newtown's future will remain bright with the right leadership. I urge Newtown voters to support Armel Kouassi to provide the right kind of leadership in the Board of Finance.

Sincerely,

Mike O'Connor

22 Horse Shoe Ridge Road, Sandy Hook         September 13, 2017