To the Editor:

Politics is the art of helping people solve common problems. Of course, citizens must agree what those problems are.

In 2013, my definition of Newtown's problem was that we needed to heal. To be whole again, we had to bring our children home, and they needed to return to us as a school community. Governor Malloy and the state legislature agreed. On June 5, 2013, the General Assembly voted affirmatively on Public Act 239, an act to bond municipal development projects, including $50 million to rebuild Sandy Hook School. However, Newtown's state representative, Mitch Bolinsky, voted No.

I surmise that Mr Bolinsky defined Newtown's problem as the state deficit. He was right. It remains an enormous dilemma. My difficulty with Mr Bolinsky is that he never owned his vote. By posting an announcement to his House Republican page when the bond commission released $3.7 million for the first phase of SHES construction, he gave the opposite impression.

Mr Bolinsky said, "From the beginning, Newtown's friends in Hartford have been responsive and sensitive to our needs."

Indeed they were, but he, Newtown's representative, never argued our case.

After campaigning with and for Eva Zimmerman, I'm convinced she will vigorously defend Newtown's interests. Eva believes the community must keep education strong, and is invested in doing that. She also understands that the property tax system that funds education must be reformed.

I've watched her listen thoughtfully to voters, heard her offer pragmatic solutions, and seen how hard she will advocate for all of us. Eva has the courage and integrity to tell us the truth, even if it's not what we want to hear.

Eva Zimmerman will work with Newtown to define common problems, and advocate tirelessly in Hartford to help us solve them.

Sincerely,

Jan Lee Brookes

38 Hundred Acres Road, Newtown         October 24, 2016