Even the best of political intentions can be swayed by technical challenges that present in this digital age.

Selectman Will Rodgers learned that lesson as he attempted to film announced intentions to run for first selectman on the steps of Edmond Town Hall, June 7, as noise from passing traffic on Main Street drowned out the audio.

Mr Rodgers, and his declared running mate Jeff Capeci, took the technical setback in stride, however, and completed their taped statements in significantly quieter confines a few minutes and about a mile down the road at the Newtown Municipal Center, on the more pastoral Fairfield Hills campus.

Dressed conservatively, the pair delivered similar sets of remarks that took about two minutes to relate, with plans to post the second take of their announcement on web and social networks later in the day.

The addition of the Rodgers/Capeci team to the already building field of first selectman candidates came weeks ahead of the Republican Town Committee's official candidates' endorsements, and could signal the first local municipal primary in recent memory as GOP contenders Mary Ann Jacob (with running mate Neil Chaudhary), and Republican Andy Clure previously indicated intentions to run for the top local elected office, as well.

Democrat Dan Rosenthal and running mate Maureen Crick Owen also recently entered the race as the apparent sole Democratic contenders.

In his remarks, Mr Rodgers acknowledged that Newtown will continue to face unprecedented challenges in the coming years as a result of significant anticipated changes in the way the state returns taxpayer dollars in the form of municipal and educational aid to the community.

"We're going to need to handle that by being a little more aggressive in the budgeting process than we have to date," Mr Rodgers said. "We'll need to look at other ways to reduce spending and increase revenues like regionalization of services, privatization where possible, and aggressive financial policies. Jeff and I are positioned well to handle these challenges."

Touting his and Mr Capeci's longtime residency and willingness to serve the community, Mr Rodgers mentioned that both he and his running mate formerly chaired the Legislative Council.

"So we understand the budgeting process and we understand Newtown," he said. "We also both have a reputation for being very fair, and are big respecters of processes."

Mr Rodgers said he believes that "sticking to procedures is one of the best ways to maximize public participation" in local government, "and ensures everyone gets a fair say."

is in the early stages of site work, as well as resuming other further development at Fairfield Hills.

Turning to other challenges, Mr Rodgers recognized the need to move on with and complete the community center project that

Mr Capeci said he was looking forward to visiting with residents over the course of campaigning in the coming months, listening to taxpayer concerns, and hearing about what constituents might like to "see different about Newtown."

"Will and I will work hard to keep Newtown a great place to live, and a nice place to prosper and raise a family," Mr Capeci added.

Besides Mr Rodgers' longtime role as the running mate of current First Selectman Pat Llodra, he also took on a leadership role following the Sandy Hook tragedy, by helping guide and administer the major fundraising initiative that began with a partnership between the regional United Way and Newtown Savings Bank, and eventually became the Newtown Sandy Hook Community Foundation.

During his final term on the council, Mr Rodgers also volunteered in his capacity as a Marine Corps Reserve officer, for a tour of active duty as a civil affairs specialist in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2006.

He and Mr Capeci both served in leadership roles chairing the council, and Mr Capeci went on to chair the latest Charter Revision Commission, which took on the daunting task of completely reformatting the town's constitutional document to make it more relevant and user-friendly for residents.

Mr Capeci is the current elected chairman of the Newtown Republican Town Committee, and works in the information technology field. Mr Rodgers has served as an attorney both in military service and in the private sector, maintaining his Sugarbrook Law Center practice from his Hattertown residence for many years.

Coincidentally, Mr Capeci and his counterpart on the Jacob ticket, Mr Chaudhary, served as a two-person committee researching and making recommendations to the town in 2014, when officials were exploring the idea of regionalizing emergency medical, fire, and police dispatching.