To The Editor:

Newtown stands at a crossroads. The challenges we face, from complex development projects to infrastructure crises, require more than good intentions. They demand seasoned leadership and proven negotiation skills. That’s why I’m stepping forward to run for First Selectman.

Negotiation isn’t a skill you pick up on the fly. It is honed through decades of experience, training, and real-world application. The job of First Selectman requires navigating high-stakes negotiations.

There are five pressing projects in Newtown that have unfortunately demonstrated Jeff Capeci’s inability to deliver for our community. The Aquarion water disaster, now more than a year old, has been barely patched with a band-aid solution and residents have been kept in the dark. The redevelopment at 6 Commerce and Castle Hill has tied up town resources in expensive lawsuits. The Winn Apartments lease has been riddled with contract issues. The sale of the police station at 3 Main Street has needlessly dragged on for years. And the reduction in recycling services has community members furious due to lack of communication by our First Selectman.

The problems we face have real consequences. As your First Selectman, I will arrive fully prepared on Day One to tackle these issues. I bring decades of extensive business experience. I have negotiated contracts, pricing, internal budgets, and company acquisitions. I have also completed formal training through KARRASS, one of the most respected negotiation programs in the world.

Newtown deserves a First Selectman who leads with confidence. Someone who doesn’t back down. Someone who delivers the critical outcomes that benefit our community. I am ready to be that leader.

I humbly ask for your vote so I can put my experience to work for our taxpayers, for our future, and for the town we all love.

Bruce Walczak

Newtown