Candidate Explains

His Comments

To the Editor:

I read with interest Mike Marsalisi’s comments in The Bee’s “Letter Hive” of August 3 relative to my first selectman acceptance speech at the Republican Caucus on July 24. I commend Mike for taking an impassioned interest in our local political landscape and especially for expressing his concerns about how urgently he feels that Newtown deserves a new energy in its local government.

For the record, I should clarify to Mike and all The Bee’s readers that my acceptance speech, unfortunately, was not reported in The Bee. Therefore, I must assume that Mike’s statements are based on my verbal comments to a Bee reporter during the week of July 16 which I feel were taken out context. Although the quote, “I feel a lot of people, like me, believe things are not going as well as they should, and they are looking for a change” is an accurate portrayal of my comments to the reporter, some of the remaining references are not accurately portrayed as mine. There is a reference to the “Republican Party … lacking another viable GOP candidate for first selectman…” These are, unfortunately, the words of the reporter. Actually, you should know that there were four qualified Republicans, myself included, who expressed a strong interest in running for the first selectman’s position in 2007.

I am honored that, after exhaustive interviews and at caucus, the Republican Town committee chose me to head their ticket of qualified, enthusiastic candidates for the November election. In fact, my running mate, outgoing Board of Education member and selectman candidate Paul Mangiafico and I were unanimously selected to bring a renewed sense of accountability to local politics. Together, it is our intention to reconnect the people of Newtown to its government. We make an excellent team and are looking forward to an exciting campaign and winning the election on November 6 on the strength of our qualifications, past service to Newtown residents, understanding of local issues, and our desire to hear what you, the people, have to say.

Mike, since you are a registered Republican, we invite you to join our campaign to make it “Nicer in Newtown” once again. If you would like to talk, please call me at 426-4396.

Sincerely,

Joseph E. Borst

10 Beechwood Drive, Sandy Hook                                August 8, 2007