To the Editor:

It is no doubt fashionable these days in Republican circles to dab a little Essence of Teabag behind each ear. It is easy, as Mr Ferguson has done, to call for “no new taxes” in Hartford. But that is easier said than done, as Mr Ferguson should know: as a member of the Legislative Council, he voted repeatedly for town property tax increases. In his web page position paper, Mr Ferguson paints a dire picture of the state’s finances and business climate and then proposes as his solution, “starting a dialogue.”

Well, it takes two sides to have a dialogue. Mr Ferguson should recall that the state budget originates with the governor, not the legislature. And we should all recall that it was the Republican governor who in 2009 cynically submitted a budget that was $2 billion short and then refused to negotiate with the legislature to fill the gap. So much for dialogue.

For my money, I believe we need fewer talkers in Hartford and more doers. This is why I am proud to support Chris Lyddy for reelection as state representative. Mr Lyddy has shown time and again his willingness to roll up his sleeves and get to work. While Mr Ferguson talks about reworking the state’s pension plans, Mr Lyddy is already doing it. While Mr Ferguson talks about reimbursement formulas and bonding issues, Mr Lyddy is already working on legislation to force the state to adopt sound accounting principles so that taxpayers will know the true cost of government. While Mr Ferguson talks about taking on the mantle of leadership in tough economic times, Mr Lyddy has already done so. In short, I’m glad Mr Ferguson is willing to have a dialog on the issues, but I’m thrilled that we already have a representative in Hartford who is letting his hard work speak for all of us.

Matthew Petrillo

13 Gelding Hill Road, Sandy Hook                           October 13, 2010