To the Editor:

I have been very impressed by Maureen Crick Owen's regular attendance at Board of Selectmen meetings for the last two years. Thus, she is well aware of the many issues that will confront the new selectmen in December.

Not only has Maureen served Newtown in many ways herself, currently as a member of the Parks & Recreation Commission and the Board of Assessment Appeals, but also she is from a family with a long tradition of Newtown public service. Her great-grandfather was a first selectman, her grandfather a  electman, and her mother, Joan Crick, the longtime warden of the Borough of Newtown. In addition, her uncle Lee Glover was chief of Newtown Hook & Ladder.

A descendant of one of Newtown's earliest families, Maureen will work hard to preserve those things that we all love about our town while making the changes that are needed during this time of diminished state aid, namely thinking outside the box to broaden our tax base and supporting more responsible spending to ease the burden on property taxpayers while maintaining necessary services.

Maureen's service on the Board of Assessment Appeals has given her firsthand knowledge of the property tax burden for many Newtown families so that she will carefully prioritize well when making decisions about spending our hard-earned tax dollars.

I encourage everyone, particularly those who will vote for Dan for first selectman, to join with me and vote for Maureen Crick Owen for selectman. She has the talent and will provide the support necessary for one Newtown, all together, moving forward.

Best regards,

Herb Rosenthal

70 Main Street, Newtown         October 23, 2017