Choosing State Legislators

We cannot think of a time when Newtown has had a better team of legislators working on its behalf in Hartford. This team takes its lead on major issues affecting Newtown from Julia Wasserman, the popular five-term veteran state representative, who is running without opposition this year. Mrs Wasserman and her fellow Republicans – State Sen John McKinney of the 28th Senatorial District, and state representatives John Stripp of the 135th Assembly District and Pat Shea of the 112th District – have presented a united front in promoting local interests in the acquisition and development of Fairfield Hills, which is the most critical issue currently facing the town. This team should be returned to Hartford intact.

Mr Stripp, like Mrs Wasserman, has no opposition this year. But Mr McKinney and Mrs Shea are being challenged by Democrats suggesting that their representation of the region in Hartford has been either deficient or not up to the standards that they would bring to the job. Both challengers – Felix Giannini of Fairfield in the 28th District and Joe Ziehl of Monroe in the 112th District – are newcomers to the political scene. Mr Giannini, a small businessman, and Mr Ziehl, an attorney, are both solid citizens and are active in their respective communities, but frankly they don’t have the experience or familiarity with the important issues facing Newtown to warrant a change in our representation in Hartford.

Even as a freshman senator in the past two years in Hartford, Mr McKinney has quickly stepped into key roles on the finance, transportation, and environment legislative committees. His work on tax legislation and on behalf of the environment, especially with regard to the preservation of water utility open space in his district, have earned him the respect and support of both his colleagues in the Senate and his constituents back home. Mrs Shea has modeled her work in the legislature on the effectiveness and competence of Mrs Wasserman by taking the time to work both sides of the aisle in the General Assembly, emphasizing consensus over confrontation. It is a strategy that has worked to the benefit of her constituents in Newtown and Monroe.