To the Editor:

Last week a Republican candidate for the Board of Finance wrote in The Bee that Newtown needs and that’s why we should elect him, a Republican.Balanced Decision Making

However the Republican Party in Newtown has stood for the exact opposite over the last six years. The Republican Town Committee has orchestrated the appointment of Republicans to key town com-missions far in excess of their representation of Newtown Voters. The Republicans account for ap-proximately 25 percent of registered voters, about the same as the Democrats. Unaffiliated voters ac-count for one half of all registered voters. Over the last six years, Republicans have been appointed in a disproportionate number to key commissions.

One of the most important commissions is the Charter Revision Commission. It has five appointed Republicans, only two Democrats and two Unaffiliated voters. The Economic Development Commission has five appointed Republicans, only one Democrat and three Unaffiliated. The Fairfield Hills Author-ity has five appointed Republicans, only one Democrat and two Unaffiliated members. On the key elected boards, the Board of Finance, The Board of Education, The Legislative Council and the Board of Selectman, there are 19 Republicans and only 9 Democrats and no Unaffiliated voters. How can we ever expect Balanced Decision Making with this type of imbalance on key boards and commission. The deck is already stacked with only a Republican Agenda, not balanced decision making.

These numbers hardly represent Balanced Decision Making. In fact this imbalance has begun to manifest itself in poor decisions, which hardly represented the communities best interests and priori-ties. Just to name a few Republican sponsored positions which caused division in the community: apartments on Fairfield Hills, the unpopular Senior/Community Center plan, a appointment process biased against Unaffiliated and minor party candidates, speed tables all over Newtown, an overly gen-erous tax abatement program for local commercial builders, the threat of closing a school, and a under-funded education program, one of the lowest in the state. The Republicans have pitted parents against seniors, commercial developers against quality of life, and neighboring streets against each other. This has hardly been the model of Balanced Decision Makers.

Come November I hope voters can begin to restore balance in Newtown government so all residents can be adequately and fairly represented in town affairs.

Bruce Walczak

12 Glover Road, Newtown September 30, 2015