Rodgers Returns To Roots Supporting Agriculture Initiatives

By John Voket

Local Legislative Council chairman and Republican state legislative candidate Will Rodgers told Sandy Hook organic farmers’ market organizer Mary Fellows he had a couple of reasons for heading out to the weekly emporium tucked up behind St John’s Episcopal Church.

“I’m not here just because I’m running for the district seat,” he said. “My wife sent me down here with a list.”

As the 106th District contender greeted local vendors, Ms Fellows talked about the increasing interest, and traffic, being generated by the growing number of farmers’ markets as a result of economic pressures driving grocery store stock prices higher.

“Today, you can get just about anything here for about the same price or less than in the big box stores,” she told the candidate. “And chances are it was picked this morning.”

Having grown up on a farm in northeastern Massachusetts himself, Mr Rodgers said he can relate to both the local participants who come to Sandy Hook every week to vend their bounty, and the consumers who are looking for fresher and more economical choices for their families.

“It’s all about supporting local,” he said. “But if people are looking for these farmers to be here for them every week, they have to make a commitment to be here. And there has to be a commitment from government as well, on both the local and state level.”

As Mr Rodgers and Ms Fellows talked about the diverse ways local growers are building a mutually beneficial relationship with consumers, he praised a new state program permitting farmers to sell shares to families. That initiative guarantees there is not only a fresh supply of whatever came out of the ground that week on the consumer’s table, but provides a fixed and bankable revenue stream farmers can depend on.

Heading for a table stacked high with loaves of fresh baked bread, the candidate looked back on his childhood.

“Developing farming businesses in town is a great way to retain Newtown’s rural character, while also helping local folks. It’s every bit as important as developing commercial industry as developing farming in appropriate areas,” he said.

Calling residential development “the big evil,” Mr Rodgers said expanding or retaining farming can be an effective way to generate a positive cash flow of tax revenue. “Residential development is a big loser for the town in terms of tax dollars collected versus tax dollars spent for town and educational services.”

Mr Rodgers said if he is successful in seeking Newtown’s state House seat this November, he is geared up to fight for Newtown’s fair slice of support for agricultural programs, and then expanding those programs statewide.

“Too many times agriculture is viewed as a quaint thing or an homage to our past. But the best way to advance these programs is by advancing the economic argument behind it,” he said. “What’s going to drive it is convincing people like these that expanding agriculture makes economic sense.”

Mr Rodgers said as the local council chairman he firmly supported Newtown’s Economic Development Commission’s initiative to put its energy behind local agricultural enterprises. He then credited the Ferris family on their efforts to sustain their business creatively by diversifying into retail sales of ice cream at a popular roadside stand on Sugar Street.

“We need to match that with an equal level of creativity on the part of state government,” he said. “This is the kind of thing we need to be encouraging more of.”

In other news, Mr Rodgers announced that after a positive advisory ruling by the Board of Ethics, Third District Councilman Jeff Capeci has agreed to manage the GOP candidate’s campaign.

Mr Rodgers said he respected Mr Capeci’s “good judgment, political sense, and organizational capabilities.” The candidate cited his fellow councilman’s experience in computer and web technology, as well as the perspective he brings having children in the local school system, and being heavily involved in youth activities in town as being particular assets.

On July 2, Mr Rodgers said he was notified that he had qualified for the Citizen’s Election Grant program. He qualified for that program, as did his Democratic challenger Christopher Lyddy, by collecting in excess of $5,000 in qualified contributions from 150 or more “in District donors.”

“I’m proud that all my contributors are from Newtown except for one, State Representative Arthur O’Neill from Southbury,” Mr Rodgers said. “I felt it best to raise my funds solely from Newtowners, with the exception of Rep O’Neill’s donation, which I accepted as a contribution from a potential legislative colleague.”