Where The Legislative Candidates Stand On The Issues

This Election Day, the only true contest exists among candidates for the Legislative Council. In that race, virtually any challenger could unseat an incumbent in his/her respective district if the challenger is among the top vote getters.

Consequently, The Newtown Bee’s election profiles this year are focusing on Legislative Council candidates. The Bee provided each candidate the opportunity to answer a series of questions — some required and others optional — so each could focus on his/her own areas of expertise or particular interests.

Legislative Council candidates were asked to answer both of the following general questions:

Question 1: What is the most critical governmental matter facing Newtown today, and if elected, how do you plan to contribute toward addressing that issue?

Question 2: What is the most single valuable skill or talent you bring to the council, and how will you apply that talent or skill to best serve our community?

Then, candidates were asked to offer opinions on any or all of these optional questions addressing specific issues. Some chose to answer all three while others focused on one or two issues.

Those questions were:

Question 3: Nearly 70 cents of every tax dollar collected in Newtown is allocated toward the education budget (including debt service). How do you think the Board of Education and the district’s leadership might better administer the investment of those tax dollars?

Question 4: Now that the Fairfield Hills Authority has been legally established, how would you like to see its members act to balance the commercial and recreational utilization of the facilities there, as well as the surrounding campus?

Question 5: In the near future, the Legislative Council must recruit and seat a charter revision panel. What, if any, is the most pertinent charter provision you feel should be amended, refined, or eliminated, and why?

The Bee noted only corresponding question numbers instead of repeating each question in each profile.