To the Editor:

At the debate, Gary Fetzer opened by reminding us that the past is the best indicator of the future. I like to say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. The bottom line is, people don’t change all that much.

That’s why the idea that Pat Llodra and Will Rodgers are a team is so difficult for me. Let’s take a look at the past...two short terms on the Legislative Council shows anything but a team:

5/10/06: Reduce the budget by $990k: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

5/10/06: Reduce the budget by $295k: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

5/10/06: Reduce the budget by $590k: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

4/4/07: Approve budget as presented by the Board of Finance: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

4/25/07: Cut $1.2 million: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

4/25/07: Cut $800k: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

4/25/07: Cut $900k: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

4/25/07: Cut $750k: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

4/25/07: Cut $750k with $542k from education, $150k from Board of Selectman and raise $58k in revenue: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

5/9/07: Cut $1.2 million from the budget: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

5/9/07: Cut $2.5 million from the budget: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

5/9/07: Cut $2.25 million from the budget: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

6/6/07: Increase the first selectmen’s salary: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

12/19/07: Move the District 3-2 voting location: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

4/2/08: Approve bonding on HS expansion to go to town meeting: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

9/17/08: Change the high school bond language: Will votes yes, Pat votes no.

9/17/08: Allow voters the chance to approve additional money for the high school: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

1/21/09: Add $350k for Parks and Rec maintenance facility to the CIP: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

1/21/09: Reduce the Rec center in the CIP from $4 million to $3.68 million: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

3/26/09: Increase the budget by $500k: Will votes no, Pat votes yes.

The pattern is clear. Their votes on controversial issues like spending, taxes, and education are often not in line. We’ve had two years of Republican leadership on the Board of Selectmen, two years of people who didn’t agree, and it has been detrimental to this town. We don’t need two more years of fighting and negativity. It’s time to move forward.

Please join me in voting for the only team who can move us forward, a team who has shown they understand what team work really means. Please join me on voting for Gary Fetzer and Joe Hemingway, the only real team working for Newtown. Visit WWW.TeamNewtown.Org for more information.

Maribeth Hemingway

10 Overlook Knoll, Sandy Hook                               October 20, 2009