After The Debate, I’m With Bruce
To The Editor:
I was disappointed at the turnout on Thursday night for the debate between our current First Selectman and the Democratic candidate, Bruce Walczak. How can we vote if we don’t know the candidates and what they stand for?
Jeff Capeci answered each question with practiced, pat responses that avoided the real issues. He seemed to answer the questions as he wanted to hear them, not as they were actually asked. He was also sarcastic and disrespectful of his opponent.
In contrast, Bruce Walczak was honest and unrehearsed. He thought first and answered from his heart, from his head, and from his extensive business and management experience.
Mr Walczak was genuinely interested in serving the people of this community and bringing his decades of public service in Newtown to the office. He also was knowledgeable and gave his position on some of our recent issues, such as the attempted book banning (against) and the effort to put in a trucking warehouse (also against) on Mount Pleasant Road.
I have had my own issues with Mr Capeci. Last year I had a neighborhood issue with a vicious dog. He was not responsive (and the issue has still not been resolved). He was unaware of the state laws regarding vicious dogs and made no effort to research the issue. He promised to call me back and never did.
On the other hand, Mr Walczak is a careful and thoughtful listener. I have no doubt that he would not only be responsive to my problem, he would do all in his power to research and solve it. He would be responsive to every Newtown citizen, no matter what the issue.
Please join me on November 4 and vote for Bruce Walczak for First Selectman. Newtown needs a change at the helm, and I’m with Bruce.
Lynn Hungaski
Newtown
I’m not sure the author of that letter was actually at the debate, because she seems to have missed the portion near the end when Bruce Walczak couldn’t explain (remember?) how the town pays for its roads. That moment was uncomfortable to watch — and it underscored exactly why experience in town government matters.
Jeff Capeci didn’t rely on “pat answers”; he relied on facts. His understanding of how Newtown operates — how projects are funded and how to actually get things done — comes from years of hands-on service, not theory or guesswork.
And let’s be honest: it’s not a bad thing that Jeff Capeci was “practiced.” I want someone who prepares for a debate, who does their homework, and who takes the role of First Selectman seriously enough to be ready. Winging it might sound authentic, but it’s not leadership.
At several points, Bruce struggled to follow along. He had to have a question repeated because he couldn’t hear, and at yet another point Jeff had to ask for clarification because no one could understand what Bruce was saying. It was clear he wasn’t answering the questions that were actually asked. It was shockingly reminiscent of a recent debate on the national stage.