Always Improving

Newtown

To the Editor:

I am pleased to be a candidate for Legislative Council District 3 and a member of the Independent Party of Newtown.

My wife Liz and our three children have lived in Newtown since 2003. Megan attends Newtown High School and Joey and Bridget are about to graduate from St Rose. We are members of St Rose parish. I have served as a baseball and basketball coach for many years. I also served as a member of the Charter Review Commission last fall, working diligently, but unsuccessfully, in trying to attain a bifurcated budget and getting advisory questions added to the budget referendum.

I am a member of the IPN because it is the party that embraces differing opinions. I support its primary purpose: to hold government accountable by insisting on transparency and a system of checks and balances.

My beliefs regarding government :

I believe in the power of free enterprise.

I am a fiscal conservative.

I believe that personal, organizational, and governmental accountability has to be present in order for individuals and communities to flourish.

I believe education is the engine behind accountability.

I believe in a limited role for government.

What I will do for Newtown :

My primary mission as a local elected official would be to ensure the citizen’s expectations are met, while maximizing the taxpayer’s return on their tax payments. I will work to avoid any tax increases and potentially reduce taxes. I will do this by seeking out and actively pursuing cost reductions, and ensuring Newtown is positioned to take advantage of any tax-generating ideas that become available and fit into a strategic plan for the town that is approved by the citizens.

I will work closely with the citizens of my district, providing 1) careful and accurate representation of their interests and 2) effective communications so they are well informed about and can make the best educated decisions concerning town issues.

If I am elected, I will work diligently to understand in detail all the town’s issues and work towards acceptable resolutions.

One example that I am currently close to and can speak to now is the bifurcation of the town budget. Giving people an opportunity to vote on and voice their opinion about the town budget’s two distinct components, education and town services, rather than just the overall budget, makes sense. I believe that voters want meaningful participation in decisions concerning their money, especially in this time of financial distress. Providing advisory questions on a bifurcated budget referendum will further enhance the voter’s participation in governing Newtown.

I look forward to tackling all the issues that concern Newtown.

I ask that you consider voting for me as a Legislative Council candidate in this fall’s election so that I may serve you in the continuing effort of always improving Newtown.

Bob Duero

14 Saddle Ridge Road, Newtown                              October 19, 2011