Preserving Clean Elections

To the Editor:

I am writing to thank State Representative Chris Lyddy for standing up for fairness and accountability in state government. When Rep Lyddy voted to override Governor Rell’s veto last Friday on An Act Concerning Clean Elections, he voted to preserve the Citizens’ Election Program (CEP), a system of public financing for state elections that goes a long way to ensure that voters can choose a candidate beholden to no special interests but those of the voters themselves.

I also wish to express my disappointment that the other legislators representing Newtown, Rep Hovey and Sen McKinney, chose to oppose this important measure, thereby voting against reducing the power of special interests and the influence of private money in politics.

The CEP has made Connecticut a model for good government reform nationwide, and I am proud to have a state representative who went against political pressure and voted for accountability and clean elections. Thanks, Chris!

Sincerely,

Ben Roberts

19 Farrell Road, Newtown                                         August 18, 2010