To The Editor:

Before Michelle Embree Ku ever talked about representing us in Hartford, she was already doing the work here at home. She’s our neighbor, the one who’s been quietly working for us for years, and now she’s bringing that some steady judgement to a new era of leadership. She already shows up, she already serves, and now she is stepping up to represent us at the state level.

I first met Michelle a few years ago when she knocked on my front door. Instead of telling me how awful her opponent was, or what her priorities were, she asked me what my issues were so that in her words, she could better represent her constituents. When was the last time a politician asked you what your concerns are?

Her dedication and service to Newtown runs deep. She has over 12 years of hands-on experience. She served on the Legislative Council, Board of Selectmen, and was the Chair of the Board of Education. She is not someone working from afar — she has been intimately involved with our community and has been working hard for Newtown for over a decade.

One of my pet peeves is traffic. Traveling I84 has become a time-consuming and unpleasant process. Yes, Newtown traffic is bad too, but much of that is because of I84’s congestion. Michelle chairs the LC Transportation Planning Committee and once in Hartford will push to expand I84 to three lanes from Waterbury to the New York State line. I encourage you to visit her website at KUisforyou.com to learn more about her plans to deal with traffic congestion as well as other issues that impact our community.

I hope you will join me in voting for Michelle Embree Ku on or before November 3.

Blinn Cirella

Newtown