To the Editor:

I first met Ned Simpson around two years ago at a Board of Finance forum held in the Senior Center. Ned stood out because he was engaged and asked well-reasoned questions. After the forum, I was surprised to learn that Ned and Katherine had just months before moved from Ann Arbor to Newtown. He attended the meeting because he was curious about our town and its governance and wanted to become a understand what it means to live in Newtown.

Fast forward a year and Ned joined me on the Board of Finance, filling a democrat vacancy. Ned has thrown himself into the position. He understands the town charter and proposed amendments, dove into policy, analyzed budgets, and once again asked probing questions. He shows no favoritism to any proposal and instead votes based on what he believes is best for Newtown. Ned arrives at meetings prepared to contribute, whether it is suggesting changes to policy governing the Capital Improvement Plan and Debt Policy or questioning expenditures. He probes all appropriations until he is satisfied with their reasonableness and their necessity.

Newtown is fortunate to have Ned as a member of the Board of Finance, and I am proud to support his reelection.

Mark Boland

66 Taunton Hill Road, Newtown October 23, 2019