Newtown resident and former selectman William (Bill) Furrier of Newtown has been endorsed by the Independent Party of CT as its candidate for the vacant 112th District state representative seat. The district encompasses all of Monroe as well as more than 2,330 registered voters who reside in southern Newtown.

Furrier will appear on the ballot under the Independent Party line for the April 13 special election.

A 24-year resident, Furrier has been active in Independent Party politics for more than 13 years, according to a release. He was previously elected to the Board of Selectmen as a member of the Independent Party of Newtown or IPN.

Previously Furrier was a member of Newtown’s Public Building and Site Commission. He also served as president of his condominium board, and is currently employed as a chemical engineer and cosmetic formulation scientist. The release, which does not name his employer, states that he works for “one of the largest Corporation [sic] in the United States.”

Speaking to the nomination, Independent Party of CT Chair Michael Telesca said, “Bill Furrier has been a long-term supporter of the Independent Party and was elected to the board of selectmen. He brings to the residents of the 112th District someone who understand [sic] governing and the important role of the state legislature. Above all he wants to get the state government, our economy, and its resident [sic] working again.”

Furrier said he was pleased to be endorsed for the statehouse seat.

“The Independent Party represents a new and important nonpartisan approach to government,” Furrier said in the release. “I will be representing first and foremost the people of the district and of Connecticut, not a major political party.”

Furrier said he intends “to work with all members of the legislature to address the serious issues the state of Connecticut currently faces. Problems that have long been ignored by our representatives.

“We must work together to understand these issues such as our economy, re-opening the states [sic] businesses, increase [sic] employment, and managing the burden our state’s unfunded mandates and taxes have placed on our resident [sic]. We can no longer simply kick these problems down the road,” Furrier said.

Look for Newtown Bee interviews with the 112th District candidates in the March 19 print edition and at newtownbee.com.