To the Editor:

Last week’s letter to The Bee encouraging residents to run for office was spot on. Newtown needs our residents to get involved, to support democracy and get things done. Today there are many ways to run for office, many more than just running as a Republican or Democrat at the request of their town committees. If your inclination is partisan, then besides the two major parties there is the Independent Party, The Green Party, the Libertarian Party and the Working Party, all glad to discuss your desire to run for office as an endorsed candidate of their party.

If you’re registered Unaffiliated, almost half of Newtown is, you’re not blacked out of running for office. In fact, in many ways running as an unaffiliated Candidate, as a non-partisan Candidate, is the easiest way to run for office. You don’t have to apply and get interviewed by any Town Committee, nor defend your views to a Political Party. You don’t have to prove you will follow Party Dictum. You can run for office as an Unaffiliated Candidate by petitioning onto the ballot. Getting the required signatures is easy. All you need is about 70 people, friends, neighbors, and others who would like to give you an opportunity to run for office.

I’m not suggesting that a run for an office is a cakewalk. You’ll have to tell your story to the voters, perhaps write letters, create lawn signs, maybe even hand out brochures around town. You can, however, be your own person and bring new and different points of view to the Boards and Commission you might run for. Do you love the work being done by the board and want to contribute your energy and expertise to Newtown? Not happy with some of the elected individuals voting record, or action taken by a board, you might just be able to do something about it.

If you would like more information on how to run as unaffiliated go to The CT State Election Enforcement Commission web site or reach out to me. Glad to help you get involved.

Bruce Walczak

Newtown