Why Joe Borst?

To the Editor:

Service: to the children, the seniors, and all people of Newtown is what Joe Borst has demonstrated. He is not interested in political power, or a career in politics. He is interested in serving the people as he has done for so many years. Joe is a member of the Legislative Council, former president and treasurer of Newtown Housing for the Elderly, former chairman of the Planning and Zoning and the Public Building and Site Commissions, former member of the Newtown Board of Selectmen. Joe is an active member of St Rose of Lima Church, the Newtown High School Band Parents, and the Newtown Forest Association. He has a BA in psychology and an MS in education. To say that Joe is well qualified to be first selectman is a gross understatement.

But there is more to Joe than just service to his community. He has, along with few others, on the Legislative Council been the minority voice of the people. Surrounded by a political machine (that has brought you tax increase after tax increase, year after year) that would only have it their way, Joe continued to be the voice of the people.

Why is he considering running for first selectman? Surely he has some motivation, otherwise why would he expose himself to the scrutiny and criticism of public office? The answer is that the current administration has failed to adequately represent the people of Newtown. They have failed to plan and control expenditures resulting in uncontrolled property tax increases. They have continuously thumbed their noses at the people, allowed schools to enter into disrepair, inadequately forecasted student population causing the high school to be placed on warning by the state for overcrowding, formed organizations like the Fairfield Hills Authority to take power away from the people, developed plans for Fairfield Hills without regard to a referendum indicating otherwise, failed to develop a long-range plan for Newtown before a Fairfield Hills Master Plan, all while spending the taxpayer’s money to contract with many consultants to design and construct a new town hall (that nobody wants except the current administration). They created a division so severe in the electorate that an independent political party was formed to challenge the incumbents. When an administration forgets whom they work for it is time for a change. And that change is what Joe is providing.

I’m voting for Joe Borst because he is the right choice.

Albert P. Roznicki

169 Hanover Road, Newtown                                 September 4, 2007