To The Editor:

Labor Day. The traditional start of Political Campaign Season. Before candy wrappers are swept away, candidate signs appear. Some are early this year. I’m a traditionalist & won’t be cluttering yet.

A 30-year marketing professional, I believe integrity matters, budgets are promises, and public service is about people — not banging party drums.

Contrary to recent opposition letters, Newtown’s influence in Hartford is strong. We do get our fair share, despite a precarious state budget. Since passing the 2026 budget, Newtown’s gotten about $660k in incremental Education tax relief, supplemental Special Ed and supplemental municipal dollars.

The dirty little secret in all CT education funding is a 13-year majority-imposed freeze on Educational Cost Sharing Foundation Grants. I report this every session. To receive intel like this, opt-in at www.RepBolinsky.com. Also note that I’ve proposed full-funding ECS every year since 2015. “Other priorities” are cited before it disappears behind closed doors after my participation in annual Appropriations Committee budgeting deliberations.

In lawmaking, relationships matter, like on my leadership committee, Aging. We’re, unique, effective and celebrated. Our House Co-Chair & I lead by transcending party lines and consistently codifying award-winning Aging-in-Place policy reforms, bolstering fiscal oversight and supporting services & quality care standards for CT’s Long-Term Care network. The proof is unanimous, or near-unanimous passage of comprehensive, award-winning, bipartisan “Governor’s” and “Speaker’s bills.” It’s a privilege working with leadership-level staff and the support of the Governor’s Office of Policy & Management (OPM).

Over the next several weeks, I’ll publish summaries of many of Connecticut’s most challenging issues, along with perspectives on how they might be addressed. I encourage you to contribute your thoughts and solutions to each & welcome constructive feedback on matters like:

CT’s Unaffordability. Among the highest cost states for energy, food, housing, insurance, services & more. Hiding unbudgeted spending in places like “Public Benefits” is no substitute for good budgeting.

Connecticut’s changing demographics. Why & what it’ll mean to you.

CT’s 13-year shorting Education & SpEd dollars & the cost to local property taxpayers.

Two 2027 increases coming to your electric bill & minimizing the cost of bad policy.

Why I’ve never voted to raise your taxes.

Taking back local control of zoning & why CT “affordable housing” isn’t.

Our 65+ year-old infrastructure, traffic, lane-miles & powerlines.

Public Safety & the need to again support law enforcement.

Game changers: Preserving open space & recreation like the Rail Trail.

There’s lots of opportunity to affect positive change in CT, and Newtown. Having diversity of thought is essential to a representative democracy especially in light of opposition suggestions that local and state dictatorships could somehow turn out well for the families and citizen-taxpayers of Newtown.

Please stay tuned or reach out as you contemplate the Republican or Independent line when voting for your State Representative or before November 3. I look forward to continuing our work to preserve local control of schools, zoning & a better Newtown and Connecticut for all, as well as the only candidate who has committed to never vote to raise your taxes.

Mitch Bolinsky

Newtown