To The Editor:

Newtown Democrats have a significant election on May 26 to determine the endorsed candidate for Connecticut's 106th House of Representatives district, to run against Mitch Bolinsky in November.

We are fortunate to have two very qualified candidates running: Michelle Embree Ku, and Brandon Moore. I know and have worked with Michelle and she is a smart, hard-working, and balanced public servant. Her record of service in town is excellent.

I also know and have worked with Brandon, and he has an equally impressive public record. He is also smart, he is a West Point and Harvard graduate, and he is a decorated attack helicopter pilot and officer. He has worked in state government and built strong relationships there, and this past fall I saw him work as hard as anyone in our successful town election campaigns. He’s a Connecticut native with a very passionate commitment to Newtown.

I respect both these candidates but I am supporting Brandon in this race. Democrats have lost this election seven times in a row, to the same candidate. The closest of those races was the first one, when the Democratic candidate had zero Newtown government experience. Michelle ran most recently, but even with her strong local record couldn’t get any closer.

Clearly, we need a ‘more different’ alternative in this fight. And that’s why I support Brandon — he probably does not have Michelle’s 'balance,' but that’s a good thing in this race. He has literally put his life on the line, he has led men and women through a range of extremely high stakes situations, and he has shown disciplined leadership under pressure. Along with his other work experience, those are the differences he’ll bring to the general election, and to the State Representative job, and that’s why he has my support.

John Fletcher

Newtown