Date: Fri 27-Oct-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

council-election-Tepas

Full Text:

Council Profiles, Kevin Tepas

Kevin Tepas spent two terms on the Legislative Council between 1989 and 1993,

and then he chose not to run for reelection in '93 to devote more time to his

family and many other commitments around town. Stepping off the council for a

couple of years was a good break, he says, helping him maintain a balanced

frame of reference for both his family life and civic life. But now he's ready

to get back to work as a council member and is running on the Democratic

ticket for a council seat in District 3.

Mr Tepas, an attorney doing civil litigation in federal and state courts,

currently serves on the board of trustees for the Family Life Center and the

Cyrenius Booth Library and is a member of the Democratic Town Committee.

As a council member, Mr Tepas says his main mission will be to maintain the

quality of life in Newtown. "I'm willing to spend the time to address the

issues and look through the fluff and find the heart of the matter."

The candidate supported the library expansion, noting "Everybody in town from

the smallest toddlers to oldest citizens will benefit from this."

Mr Tepas is also supportive of the Board of Education's efforts to renovate

and expand Hawley School and Newtown High School. He notes that the last time

the high school was evaluated, its acceditation was jeopardized by its

inadequate library facilities. And, he says, "Hawley School doesn't even have

a place where they can cook a hot lunch at noontime." The town should plan for

the next 20 years instead of for the next two years, he says.

With all the expenses the town is facing Mr Tepas believes sound policies on

economic development are essential. Because of the built-in costs of educating

children and providing services to an expanding population, something other

than residential development should be encouraged, according to the candidate.

"Every house built costs the taxpayers more, says Mr Tepas. "Unless we want to

continue to watch the taxes go up, something has to change." Newtown has a lot

to recommend itself both as a business climate and as a place to live,

according to the candidate. Those attributes should be made clear to the kind

of low-profile, clean industries that can help Newtown grow without losing

those qualities which drew most people to town in the first place, he says.