To the Editor:

We decided to run as Board of Education candidates for the Independent Party of Newtown because we share a steadfast belief that our town’s two-party system exists in name only.

The Democrats, in concert with the Republicans, holding fast to the edict that the Democrats “own” Mr Gissen’s Board seat, put forth Anna Wiedemann to run unopposed to fill out the two-year remainder of Mr Gissen’s team. Donna A. Monteleone would have none of that, and decided this week to challenge the status quo by running against Ms Wiedemann as a write-in candidate.

It’s not an easy decision to take on “the system.” People in the status quo don’t like it when people rock the vote. But as the saying goes, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. That is an apt description of Donna A. Monteleone.

Said Donna A. Monteleone, “If no one runs, that seat will be by appointment, not election, I believe in allowing voters a choice. The seat for that two-year term is now a two-person race. I have an uphill battle. However, I believe it is the right thing to do and I’ve never been afraid of a good challenge.”

Donna A. Monteleone served her country proudly as an officer in the US Army Signal Corps. She was purchasing manager for Exxon, Unilever, and Witco. She was US Consular Coordinator for Americans living in Cuernavaca, Mexico. During the time living in the Czech Republic, she served her community as school association officer, our equivalent of PTA president. Moving to Sandy Hook with her family, she dove right in spearheading an annual St Valentines Day letter writing project at Sandy Hook Elementary School, encouraging students to send letters to our men and women in the military serving overseas. This past February, working with teachers and Vice Principal Cathy Mazzariello, Sandy Hook students sent more than 400 letters.

Donna A. Monteleone has a bachelor of science degree in both meteorology and oceanography from Polytechnic Institute of New York and worked towards a master’s degree in telecommunications engineering from the University Southern Mississippi.

Donna A. Monteleone has the right experience and the right stuff to be a valued member of the Board of Education, and we think she will be part of a great, independent-thinking team that will enthusiastically address the important issues facing our schools. Donna A. Monteleone shares our belief that our young people deserve a school system where they can blossom intellectually, physically and emotionally, and that we must ensure that our high school will return to a “blue ribbon” status.

We encourage you to compare Donna A. Monteleone’s credentials with those of the other candidates listed in the October 19 Newtown Bee and hope that you will agree to support “Donna A. Monteleone” as a write-in candidate for the Board of Education.

Please write Donna A. Monteleone in Section 17F and make sure you fill in the oval for the optical scanner.

Desiree Galassi

David Nanavaty

Candidates, Board of Education

Independent Party of Newtown

151 Huntington Road, Newtown                             October 24, 2007