To the Editor:

Newtown has an important election coming up on November 7. We are voting for a new first selectman, the highest ranking official in Newtown. Recently I had the opportunity to have a conversation with Dan Rosenthal, who is running for the office. Dan is a lifelong resident of Newtown, and it was clear from our conversation that he cares deeply about the families who live here and the future of the town. He has more than 20 years of community involvement and an impressive knowledge of the issues that matter to people, not just in Newtown, but in the state of Connecticut.

Dan is the neighbor of a close friend of mine. I have met him and his family several times over the past few years, and they are truly some of the nicest people I have ever met. They are outstanding neighbors to my friend, always willing to lend a helping hand, and just genuinely kind, caring people. So, when I heard that Dan was running for first selectman I was interested to hear more about his vision for Newtown.

Dan patiently talked to me for an hour, answering all of my questions about how he would like to improve Newtown, if elected. Dan explained concrete ways he would work to offset the rising taxes on residents by nurturing and growing our business community. He told me what he thought were the priorities for fiscally responsible development in Newtown. And he shared some exciting ideas about how to build community and improve communication networks in town.

I believe that Dan's successful career in business development, his love for Newtown, and his fresh perspective on community building make him a superior candidate. Dan Rosenthal is my choice for first selectman on November 7.

Sincerely,

Lisa Rioni

7 Juniper Road, Newtown         October 4, 2017