Letters Of Endorsement

To the Editor:

Stacie Doyle, District 2, is running for Legislative Council. She’s a fresh new name to Newtown politics. She is not a politician, but an intelligent and caring individual who wants to preserve the character and appeal of Newtown, keeping it a town that we will all want to live in now and in the future. She has excellent credentials, including an MBA in finance. Her experience, at the executive level, spans: strategic planning, insurance and bond ratings, risk assessment, and real estate investment. These skills will be invaluable on the Legislative Council. The issues in town continue to mount and Stacie will face these challenges in a fiscally responsible manner while assuring that the town and schools do not suffer.  She recognizes the challenges that the town and schools face and understands the magnitude of the impact of her decisions. She is quite attuned to significant issues, such as: the potential expansion of the high school, the growth of the senior center, and the development of Fairfield Hills, as well as the development of our park projects. Stacie is the mother of a Sandy Hook kindergartener and a preschooler. Beyond impressive credentials, she is a person of integrity and a person who is always ready to listen and discuss matters with others.

Keith Jacobs, District 1, is also running for Legislative Council. This is Keith’s first bid for a council seat in Newtown. However, he is intimately aware of the issues in town. He has been actively following the town and school issues and regularly attending Legislative Council, Board of Education, and Board of Finance meetings for several years. He is a person intent on providing a better town for all and overcoming the problems caused by destructive town politics. As a father of two children (at Head O’ Meadow), he is acutely aware that we need to address issues that will impact our children in the short term and the long term, as well as the issues facing all citizens of Newtown. Keith is determined to work toward: creating ways to control tax increases, while preserving a strong school system, preserving open space and developing Fairfield Hills to serve the citizens of Newtown. Keith is a person who is easy to talk with and will be more than happy to hear about your concerns.

As cliché as it may sound, they are both people who really wants to make a difference.

As you vote this year please consider candidates across party lines and vote for individuals, people who will best represent the interests of all in town…from youth to senior citizens, and those with varying economic situations. I would recommend the following, based on my personal conversations, candidate statements at public meetings, and/or voting records:

District 1 — Jacobs, Pennarola, and Iassogna

District 2 — Doyle, Llodra, Hemmingway, and Borst

District 3 — Brown, Rosenthal, and Capeche

Please do not see my leaving off names as anything personal against the candidates not listed. I have met many of them and find them to be good individuals, each with their own strengths and who need to be appreciated for the time and effort they put into the town. 

Most importantly, please get out and vote on Tuesday and encourage others to do so.

Michele Hankin

48 Mt Pleasant Road, Newtown                                                                                           November 2, 2005