To the Editor:

I am writing in support of Anna Wiedemann as she runs for the Board of Education in November. When you hear Anna’s name, many of you will think “schools.” After all, Anna worked for the district for ten years and served almost two decades as president or co-president for Newtown’s PTAs and PTA Council. During that same time she has regularly attended Board of Education meetings and has worked to communicate BOE decisions back to parents and citizens. Given that the education budget is 76 percent of our town’s overall budget, her value of fiscal responsibility will serve Newtown well.

In case, after reading the first paragraph, you think Anna is only about the schools, let me pass along that Anna is also a past and current Meals on Wheels volunteer, a VNA volunteer, a member of the Long-Term Strategic Planning Committee, served on the Board of Managers, and continues in her ninth year as a student mentor in the district’s program. She and her husband have lived in Newtown for almost 20 years, raising their children here and giving back to our amazing community the entire time.

Anna is fair, direct and hardworking. She is curious to hear all sides of an issue and then will work to build consensus. I have volunteered with Anna several years and am proud to call her my friend. I will be supporting her at the election and hope that you will too.

Sarah Beier

7 Yogananda Street, Sandy Hook                             October 17, 2007