To the Editor:

Living in Newtown has made me acutely aware that one must do their homework before either supporting or not supporting a candidate based on hearsay or friendships. Because I care deeply about what happens in our town, I make a concerted effort to select someone whom I have witnessed to have the character, initiative, and courage to address the ever-changing makeup of our society. Substantiating my vote with factual information and several conversations about the issues has helped me to understand that Chris Lyddy is the right choice for Newtown for state representative.

I began my research with the voting records of both Chris Lyddy and Will Rodgers to prove to myself and others that Chris acts on his word and votes with the people. In the one year that Chris has served on the Legislative Council, I have seen a remarkable growth in leadership qualities of this young man. It takes a great deal of courage to shake the status quo, but Chris has recognized what the citizens have been professing year after year at the polls. What we have been doing just isn’t working.

Chris understands the balance between the need to ensure quality education for all students and the frustration professed by tax payers in response to the 50 percent decrease in state funding for education and mandates. He also understands and supports education reform and what initiatives we must take to produce globally savvy 21st Century students.

Chris has recognized that Newtown’s inability to plan strategically, communicate with our citizens, and move forward with conviction is debilitating our town. Chris sees the need to involve more and diverse people, with a wide range of ideas, from all angles of the community so that our decisions accurately reflect our collective needs. I know this because he had the courage last Election Day to step out of the box and shake my hand when I was an IPN candidate for BOE. It was a gesture that other members of the RTC and DTC were unwilling to make and that indicated his willingness to come to the table and collaborate despite different political backgrounds. While some have called those with different opinions “special interest groups,” Chris recognizes that we are all “especially interested” in making Newtown a better place to live.

Chris Lyddy is a breath of fresh air from the obsolete and sometimes incestuous leadership group we currently have. It will be my pleasure to vote for him next week based on what I know about him. But don’t take my word for it. Look up the meeting minutes of the Legislative Council and you’ll see for yourself, or better yet, give him a call.

Desire Galassi

151 Huntingtown Road, Newtown                            October 28, 2008