To the Editor:

It is with great pleasure that I endorse and recommend Democratic candidate Paul Lundquist for Newtown’s Legislative Council.

Paul has lived in Newtown for ten years and has become an active and vital community member. Many of you may recall that Paul volunteered hundreds of hours of his time to conduct the Newtown survey in 2007, so that our community could better understand and assess our interests and concerns for Newtown’s future, sense of priorities, desires, and needs.

When I asked Paul what his objectives were with the Newtown survey, he told me that (as a research expert) he sought to strip emotion out of the issues facing our town in order to provide an unbiased, accurate snapshot of what Newtown residents really want most. Worth mentioning, this project began at a time when Paul didn’t know a single elected official, member of a local political party, special interest group member or even a PTA member. He, like so many of us (myself included), lived happily in a nice town, unaware of most of the issues going on around us. But while enjoying the focus on his own family and friends while raising young children, he soon thought that maybe we should begin to tune in to see what’s actually going on in our town. He encouraged a couple friends to join him at a public town meeting, and before the public participation session was complete, he had stood up and offered to conduct a survey. Just like that — he saw a need, knew he was qualified, and stepped forward to volunteer. The rest is history, and it led him on a logical path to continue his incrementally deeper involvement to the point of seeking a seat on the Legislative Council.

And knowing Paul as I do, I believe that this role on the council plays to his strengths, and will benefit all of us if Paul is elected. Paul is so very adept at parsing out emotion and subjectivity from situations and using his knowledge, intelligence, and quiet confidence to arrive at sensible, well-thought-out conclusions that benefit the group as a whole and not just individuals.

Paul is a doting father of two boys, and loves Newtown very much. He wants to see good things happen in our town; and perhaps more than anyone I know, is optimistic and informed about Newtown’s future, choices we need to make, resources to tap and bridges to gap.

Please join me this coming election and vote for Paul Lundquist for Legislative Council.

Scott Wolfman

30 Obtuse Road, Newtown                                        October 5, 2009