To the Editor:

In this election year, we need people in Hartford who will have a voice that will be heard, a voice that speaks for all of us, a voice that knows how to advocate for our needs, a voice that gets attention. We have two of those people on the Democratic ticket this year.

Eva Bermudez-Zimmerman is running for the 106th District and she has a dynamic ability to ensure that the people she works for get their voices heard loud and clearly. She has worked as a advocate for countless people, ensuring that they have access to health insurance, good working contracts, and access to their representative. Eva's dedication to the public is second to none and she will continue her work for all of us once elected as our state representative.

Phil Dwyer is another tireless workhorse, who after a long career as the CEO of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA and current Fairfield Board of Education chairman, understands firsthand the impact of dwindling resources and balancing the tax burden on our families. Phil knows the needs of our schools and how to ensure a quality education for all our children. In the State Senate, we need someone with Phil's knowledge of the education process and his ability to ensure that limited funds reach as far as possible.

By electing both Eva and Phil, we are putting our voices in the hands of people with long-term vision, people with the ability to do the hard work, the research, to make a positive impact in Newtown and throughout the state.

If you listen to the current nonsensical accusation of election rigging, you would assume that our system is either flawed or completely broken. Here in Newtown, LeReine Frampton has been ensuring that our elections run smoothly and that every vote counts. Newtown has been recognized by the secretary of the state for our elections, and LeReine's hard work and dedication make all of us proud.

We are also happy to have Raghib Allie-Brennan running for the small slice of Newtown in the Second District. Bringing new ideas and enthusiasm will serve all of us well for the next two years.

Sharon Dornfeld is our candidate running for the Judge of Probate. This is a critical position for families in times of crisis and her experiences in family court defending children, the elderly, and people with disabilities make her an ideal judge for the Probate Court.

A final point to know about Eva is that she has earned the endorsement of the American Federation of Teachers, who represent our teachers here in Newtown. If our teachers trust Eva with their endorsement and we trust our teachers with our children, we can put our trust in Eva to represent us in Hartford. I urge you will to cast your votes down Row A (or Row C) for candidates you can rely on.

Eric Paradis

Chairman, Newtown Democratic Town Committee

33 Church Hill Road, Newtown         November 2, 2016