A Voter Who Does Care

To the Editor:

The Danbury News-Times reported on August 19 that Chris LaRocque, who is running to be our state representative, will not be eligible to receive money from the Citizens’ Election Program because of fraud. He needed to raise $5,000 and get 150 signatures from Newtown residents to be eligible for the $26,000 in state funding. The State Elections Enforcement Commission denied him this because he falsified more than ten percent of the donors he needed.

While the act of fraud against the taxpayers of Connecticut and the residents of Newtown is bad enough, what prompts me to write this letter is my disgust for Mr LaRocque’s cavalier attitude toward the offense. His response in the News-Times is, “I don’t think people really understand or care about state finance stuff in general, but it is what it is.”

Mr LaRocque, it is not that hard for the people who you seek to represent to understand that candidates are required to get 150 unfalsified signatures; it is not that complicated. And, I do care. I care because if you and your volunteer staff are so careless and cavalier with these simple rules and regulations, then how will you honesty navigate the myriad of issues surrounding the state budget and legislative process in Hartford? How can voters trust you? More importantly, where is your respect for the intelligence of Newtown residents? Your assumption that voters do not care about how state campaign funds are implemented is insulting. Frankly I feel that the program is a huge tax burden and such issues are not “stuff” to me. How Connecticut allocates our precious funds in a time of budget crisis is important to taxpayers. It makes me sick that so many state programs to improve the lives of hardworking citizens are being cut, and wannabe politicians, like you, have the audacity to be dishonest with the very simple threshold for eligibility.

Sincerely,

Addie Sandler

4 Far Horizon, Sandy Hook                                         August 25, 2010