To The Editor:

When I moved to Newtown in 2009, I had no plans for getting involved in local politics. But the Independent Party of Newtown (IPN) and their Chair at the time, Bruce Walczak, changed that. Their commitment to school funding and Bruce’s advocacy for government transparency inspired me to pay more attention to what my local government was doing and speak up.

Forming a local political party is no small feat, yet Bruce led that effort as a founding member and chair of the IPN. Under his leadership, they successfully elected Independent members to boards and commissions throughout local government. More importantly, Bruce has consistently held public officials accountable and advocated for residents’ right to know how their government operates.

I’m endorsing Bruce Walczak for First Selectman for several reasons. Newtown, with its numerous boards and commissions, needs someone who can inspire volunteers to serve — that’s Bruce. His track record of building coalitions and inspiring people to run as Independent candidates speaks for itself.

Most critically, we need someone committed to transparent, communicative government — that’s Bruce. The public deserves to know how decisions about their neighborhoods and town are being made. Open dialogue creates space for better solutions. When residents can participate meaningfully in local decisions, we tap into our community’s collective wisdom and ensure policies actually serve the people they’re meant to help. Bruce has a track record for being a champion for transparency and public access to information.

Newtown deserves leadership that listens, communicates, and values civic engagement. Bruce Walczak is that leader.

Michelle Embree Ku

Newtown