To The Editor:

In my final days in office, I reflect on over the past two decades of serving the people of Newtown in the Town Clerk’s office, I am flooded with so many emotions — pride, gratitude, and deep appreciation for this community.

My career began as Assistant Town Clerk in 2005, under the mentorship of former Town Clerk Cindy Curtis, back when our office was located in Edmond Town Hall. Upon her retirement in 2007, I was appointed Town Clerk, and I have proudly served our community every day since.

Education has always been essential to being an effective Town Clerk, and I dedicated myself to achieving every local, state, and international accreditation available to the position, a commitment that took years to accomplish.

From working closely with our veterans … to organizing our annual low-cost rabies vaccination clinic … to participating in the Newtown Citizen’s Emergency Response Team (CERT) … to modernizing our online land records and vital records … to preserving our historic documents … to overseeing the relocation of our office to the Municipal Center … to designing the vault that now protects 300+ year-old Newtown records … to navigating the unprecedented challenges of COVID, I have always strived to give my very best to this community and to build strong, lasting relationships.

This wasn’t simply a one-sided relationship. The community gave back to me in ways I could never have imagined.

The greatest relationship I was fortunate to build began in 2011 with the very handsome Newtown Fire Marshal and Chief of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Bill Halstead. We were married two years later and shared a wonderful life together until his sudden and unexpected passing in 2022. Those first months were unbearable. The past three years have been the most difficult of my life, and I continue to struggle every day. But I truly don’t know where I would be without the incredible love, support, and kindness of this town. The community I dedicated myself to carried me through my darkest time, and for that, I will be forever grateful.

To everyone who has supported me over the years — thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will always carry so many wonderful memories with me. To my family and friends, who mean the world to me. I appreciate you more than you will ever know.

Though the results of this election were not what I had hoped for, I wish the incoming administration nothing but success as they step into their new roles.

Debbie Aurelia Halstead

Newtown Town Clerk