Letter Of Endorsement

To the Editor:

One of Newtown’s beauties is our location: beautiful fields and great wooded areas. With that, however, come ticks. Unfortunately, my family has had a family member diagnosed with Lyme disease for two consecutive years. Until you have personally experienced this disease, it is hard to understand how terribly it can impact a person’s life.

This is one of the many reasons I am grateful for the hard work of Representative Chris Lyddy. Newtown is well-served by this young man, someone who listens to the real concerns of our community, learns about the issues at hand, and takes a leading role in making a difference for his constituents.

As he campaigned for his first election, Chris heard about the devastating effects Lyme disease was having on our community. With the highest rate of Lyme disease in this area, and Newtown being ranked in the top 20 towns for most cases in the state, Chris saw first-hand what a problem this was for his district.

And he didn’t waste time getting to work for us!

In his first session as a state rep, Chris listened to the situation Newtown families were facing. He heard our stories and carried our voices of this struggle to Hartford. Working with members of Newtown’s Lyme Disease Task Force, Chris co-sponsored a bill allowing “a licensed physician to prescribe, administer, or dispense long-term antibiotic therapy” to patients with Lyme disease. HB 6200 was passed in the 2009 session, and removed the barriers Connecticut physicians had previously faced when trying to treat patients infected with Lyme disease.

As a freshman legislator, Chris Lyddy has already proven to be an effective leader. This is just one example of his ability to listen to an outcry from those he represents, and work on our behalf in Hartford. Two years ago, Chris promised to carry the voices of Newtown to Hartford, and he has done just that. I am grateful to Rep Lyddy for his work on behalf of my family, and thank him for his service to the people of Newtown.

Please join me in reelecting Chris Lyddy on November 2. I am confident he will continue to work hard for all of Newtown’s families.

Mike Kelley

21 Bridge End Farm Lane, Sandy Hook              September 8, 2010