Date: Fri 06-Nov-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

edink-election-results

Full Text:

ED INK: Fielding A Team In Hartford

Newtown voters did some ticket splitting in Tuesday's election, backing mostly

Republicans for the administration of the state government and Democrats to

represent them in Washington, D.C. They also picked a solid Republican team to

represent them in the legislature in Hartford.

We hope that Newtown's new team of state legislators -- State Sen-elect John

McKinney, State Rep Julia Wasserman, State Rep John Stripp, and State

Rep-elect Pat Shea -- really will work as a team on issues of importance to

the town.

Chief among these is the redevelopment of Fairfield Hills, which is just now

starting to unfold with the state's search for a developer to help formulate

and implement a plan to repopulate the vacant former state mental hospital

with a mix of businesses and services. Thanks to Mrs Wassermann, working in

concert with town and state officials, Newtown is well represented on the

Fairfield Hills Selection Committee, which will choose a developer. As the

process unfolds, however, issues are sure to arise that do not represent the

town's interest in maintaining the environmental, aesthetic, and economic

integrity of the 185-acre core campus area of Fairfield Hills. When that

happens, Newtown will need the coordinated advocacy of all its state

legislators in Hartford. We would like to see our new team of representatives

commit themselves early to that cause.

The other issue that will require the vigilance and persistent engagement of

our legislators is the evolving discussion and planning in the state

Department of Transportation to upgrade Route 25 between Mile Hill Road in

Newtown and Route 111 in Trumbull. To date, there is no plan, no money, and no

schedule for the improvements. Before too much more discussion ensues,

however, our state legislators should get together to adopt a strategy that

reflects the best interests of both Newtown and Monroe. For Newtown, that

means forestalling any initiative to expand South Main Street into a four-lane

superhighway.

We congratulate all the successful candidates in Tuesday's election and urge

them to keep their momentum moving forward, remembering that their political

victory is only the first step on the long, winding road of public service.