To the Editor:

This letter is in support of Rob Blanchard, who is running for State Senator.

Rob has a long history of working for the citizens of Connecticut. He comes from a strong middle class hard working family who instilled in him the importance of giving back to his community.

He is currently Chief of Staff to Comptroller Sean Scanlon, and is helping to find ways to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. Rob has worked with former Attorney General George Jepsen and was also a senior advisor to Governor Ned Lamont, helping address key issues such as the impact of the mortgage crisis and the Covid pandemic on Connecticut.

Rob’s elected service includes serving on a town planning and zoning board as well as on the city council. He currently serves on Fairfield’s RTM (Representative Town Meeting, the equivalent of Newtown’s Legislative Council), where he brings energy, creativity, and commitment to community service to help neighborhoods. Rob will collaborate with local leaders to ensure they aren’t faced with rising property taxes or lower education funding. He is dedicated to cutting the red tape so businesses — large and small — can thrive. He will fight to create a strong workforce that attracts and trains the next generation of workers — teachers, healthcare workers, public safety professionals, and manufacturers.

Rob’s priorities are to: address the rising costs of utilities, healthcare, and childcare, grow our economy and make Connecticut more business-friendly, bolster our state’s gun safety laws, strengthen women’s rights, including access to IVF, and protect our environment, farms, open space, and coastline.

Through his years of working for state government, Rob has learned firsthand just how thoughtful government action and smart leadership can move our communities forward. Rob has exactly the right kind of experience and viewpoint to be a successful State Senator. We need him in Hartford so please vote for him on November 5!

Tulio E. Lopez

Newtown