To the Editor:

I, for one, would like to write in support of Bill Sheluck’s campaign for first selectman of Newtown. I have three main reasons for this: “The Vision Thing,” his stance on the role that a welcoming business environment plays for our community, and his budget and audit experience from his business career.

On vision, I believe he has a specific vision for what he wants to accomplish in Newtown. Our office-holders need to be held accountable if we as a town are to get anything done. Bill has laid out in writing and in his public statements a consistent vision for Newtown (which I happen to agree with). It’s on the record, and he will either accomplish it or not, and come next election we will have a fair basis for reelecting him, or not.

We need a better and larger business infrastructure in Newtown. I am not, repeat not, for runaway development. I love the character of Newtown, and the last thing I want to see is for it to become overdeveloped, like so many southern Fairfield County communities. But, we have to have a much better balance between explosive residential growth — that tends to add to the tax burden — and a solid commercial tax base that allows us to meet our many needs without making Newtown totally unaffordable. A balanced community with longtime residents and young new families is stronger, and just a better place to live, than say Greenwich, which only the very wealthy can afford. Bill has made it clear he understands this, and with his business background he can help us attract businesses to restore that balance.

Lastly, we need to get the most “government” possible for our money. We practice this every day in our personal lives — clipping coupons, haggling on a new car, or buying 40 rolls of TP at Costco. In business, managing the budget and squeezing everything possible out of it is truly an art. Government seems to be the only exception, with the budget on a one-way trajectory. Having had to manage budgets myself, I know the devil of a budget is in the details. Bill knows this, too. He has experience with budgets and the auditing of budgets that will ensure we spend our scarce dollars wisely and only on true priorities.

That’s what I believe.

Sincerely,

Michael G. Beaudry

36 Queen Street, Newtown                                        October 8, 2003