To The Editor:

When evaluating who should represent the 106th District in the Connecticut House of Representatives, voters must look past simple longevity and ask a fundamental question: Does Newtown have the active, pragmatic voice it needs in Hartford today?

While Rep. Mitch Bolinsky has served our community for years, sitting in the minority caucus naturally limits a representative's ability to shape legislation before it reaches the floor or directly steer state resources back to our municipality. Newtown cannot afford to settle for opposition-style oversight when we could have a proactive leader helping set legislative priorities. Michelle Embree Ku offers Newtown the opportunity to move from the sidelines to the center of policy discussions.

Michelle’s qualifications speak directly to what our town values most: disciplined governance, evidence-based leadership, and deep local commitment. Having served as Chair of the Newtown Board of Education, and as a member of the Legislative Council and the Board of Selectmen, she understands local municipal budgets and public-school needs better than anyone. As a scientist holding a doctorate in biology, she approaches complex policy — from lowering healthcare costs to strengthening environmental resilience — with rigor, pragmatism, and accountability.

On critical local issues, Michelle’s priorities align with Newtown’s long-term interests. She supports evidence-based gun safety measures, equitable special education resources, and strategic state-local funding partnerships that protect municipal taxpayers. Her goal isn't to impose top-down mandates, but to ensure Hartford serves as a strong partner in supporting our schools, infrastructure, and local businesses.

Newtown deserves an analytical, steady, and effective leader who will listen to residents on their front porches and advocate for them in the halls of the State Capitol. Michelle Embree Ku is that leader, and I urge my fellow residents to cast their vote for her for State Representative.

Tulio E. Lopez

Newtown